Roger Carstens
3rd Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs
Assumed office
March 1, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byRobert C. O'Brien
Personal details
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
Naval War College (MA)
St. John's College (MA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
UnitUnited States Army Special Forces
Battles/warsIraq War

Roger Dean Carstens is an American diplomat and retired United States Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel. Carstens has served as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) since 2020.

Raised in Spokane, Washington, Carstens graduated from United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, where he was class president for the Class of 1986. After graduation, he went on to attend United States Army Ranger School.[1]

Carstens served as a special forces military officer for much of his time in the Army. He also served as a legislative liaison at the Department of Defense and for the United States Special Operations Command.

Carstens has served two U.S. Presidents at the United States Department of State. He was the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in the Trump administration. He has served as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs since 2020. Carstens was one of the few political appointees that President Joe Biden elected to keep in place.[2]

During his work as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), Carstens has negotiated the release of over a dozen Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad including Brittney Griner, Philip Walton, Trevor Reed, Danny Fenster, Baquer Namazi, the entire Citgo Six, Osman Khan, Matthew John Heath, Mark Frerichs, and Jorge Alberto Fernández. Carstens has attended events with and supported the Bring Our Families Home campaign.

Early life and education

Roger Carstens grew up in Spokane, Washington, and graduated from University High School (Washington) in 1982.[3] Carstens went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in diplomatic and strategic history from the United States Military Academy in 1986.[4][5] Carstens was class president at West Point and [6]became interested in joining the military after reading about injustices around the world including the Cambodian genocide.[2]

Carstens later earned a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2002 and a Master of Arts in liberal arts from St. John's College in 2016.[7][8][9]

Carstens meets with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on April 26, 2021.

Career

United States Army

During his time with the Army, Carstens earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Special Forces. Carstens served in six different wars: United States invasion of Panama, Kosovo War,[10] Bosnian War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War, and Somali Civil War,[11] and thirteen different military locations.[12]

During the 1990s, Carstens trained for years to conduct rescue operations as a special forces officer.[2] Carstens served as Company Commander of the Special Forces Qualification Course at the U.S. Army's Special Forces School.[13]

He also acted as an advisor to the Iraqi National Counter Terror Force and a senior civilian advisor to the International Security Assistance Force. After completing a tour in Iraq, he served as a legislative liaison for the United States Secretary of Defense.[14]

Daniel Pinéu, a professor at Amsterdam University College, wrote that Carstens is the embodiment of the phrase "an officer and a gentleman."[15]

Fellowships

In 2003, Carstens was selected as a finalist for the White House Fellows program.[16]

After leaving the military, Carstens was a Senior Fellow for the Center for a New American Security. He has also worked as a fellow for the New America Foundation.[17]

CAAT

Carstens served as Senior Civilian Advisor on the Commander's Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2011. He advised on counterinsurgency. General David Petraeus praised Carstens for his work with CAAT.[18]

INGOs

Carstens helped train local Somali National Army and African Union Mission to Somalia security forces in Somalia through his work with Bancroft Global Development.[19] He has also worked for an NGO that delivered humanitarian aid from Jordan into southern Syria.[20]

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Carstens previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. In 2019, Carstens condemned the human rights crisis occurring in Nicaragua.[21] He also advocated, among other things, to protect the human rights of women in Syria in the midst of the Syrian civil war.[22]

Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs

In 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Carstens as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.[23] He has prioritized building infrastructure in the hostage recovery process.[20]

Jason Rezaian, a journalist and former wrongful detainee in Iran, wrote an op-ed asking President Biden to keep Carstens in his position.[20] Carstens was one of the few political appointees that President Joe Biden elected to keep in place.[2][24]

Family members of Americans held hostage told Yahoo! News that Carstens has been a "relentless advocate" for hostages and their families.[2] In a 2021 report by the James Foley (journalist) Foundation, family members praised Carstens's dedication: "Ambassador Carstens made himself available to us saying if we need anything that we could call or email him at any time. There have been times where we’ve had to call and ask for help. It's much better… [we] feel like he's really there for the families.”[25]

Carstens supported President Biden's executive order that seeks to help American's unlawfully detained abroad and prevent such wrongful detentions.[24] He told NPR "I think overall the sanction tool is going to offer a chance to deter people in the long term when they see it being used. But whether it's going to specifically be the spring that gets Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan free - that is yet to be seen."[26]

Afghanistan

In 2022, Carstens negotiated the release of Mark Frerichs as a part of a prisoner exchange for Bashir Noorzai.[27]

Iran

Carstens has engaged in indirect conversations with Iranian officials to secure the release of Americans being held by the Iranian government.[28]

Myanmar

In 2021, Carstens, along with former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, assisted in the release of American journalist Danny Fenster. Carstens appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss his involvement in the case.[29][27]

Nigeria

Carstens assisted in the 2020 Nigeria hostage rescue mission of Philip Walton.[2] Walton had been kidnapped from his home in Southern Niger by an armed group and taken to Nigeria.[30]

Russia

In April 2022, Carstens negotiated the release of Trevor Reed as part of a prisoner exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot convicted of drug smuggling.[31] President Biden praised Carstens for his work to secure the release of Reed.[32] He has also worked to secure the release of Paul Whelan (security director) and WNBA star Brittney Griner.[33]

Syria

Carstens travelled to Syria during the Presidency of Donald Trump to try to negotiate for the release of Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz.[2][33] The Syrian government continues to deny holding Tice.[34]

Venezuela

Carstens has helped negotiate the release of nine Americans from Venezuela during his time as the head of hostage affairs. In March 2022, he negotiated the release of Gustavo Cárdenas, a member of the Citgo Six and also American Jorge Alberto Fernández.[35] In October 2022, Carstens negotiated a prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of seven Americans, including the remaining five of the Citgo Six, Matthew John Heath, and Osman Khan.[36][failed verification] Carstens also helped negotiate the release of 10 additional Americans in December 2023. [37]

Media Projects

Carstens appeared in "The Project", a documentary film that documents Carstens works as a contracted military advisor[38] to support the Somali people in their efforts to combat the rise of piracy off the coast of Somalia.[39] Carstens was featured in NBC's "The Wanted", as an expert in counterterrorism.[40][41]

Books

References

  1. ^ "Two Women Make History by Passing Army's Elite Ranger School". NBC News. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "He helped Trump bring American hostages home. Now he's working for Biden". news.yahoo.com. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  3. ^ "U-Hi graduate joins TV hunt for criminals | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Roger Dean Carstens". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  5. ^ "West Point Association of Graduates". www.westpointaog.org. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  6. ^ e-yearbook.com (tm). "United States Military Academy West Point - Howitzer Yearbook (West Point, NY), Class of 1986, Page 453 of 654 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. Search and browse yearbooks online!". e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Army Vet Learns from Experience, Great Books | St. John's College". St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe). Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Roger D. Carstens". Foreign Policy Research Institute. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Talking Teds — Anika Prather and Roger Carstens". The Colloquy Blog. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  10. ^ Ramirez, Armando J. (15 August 2014). From Bosnia To Baghdad: The Evolution Of US Army Special Forces From 1995-2004. Pickle Partners Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78289-777-4.
  11. ^ "Army Vet Learns from Experience, Great Books | St. John's College". www.sjc.edu. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  12. ^ Capabilities, United States Congress House Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats, and (2010). U.S. Special Operations Command: Challenges and Opportunities : Hearing Before the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, Hearing Held March 3, 2009. U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-0-16-086535-0.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Babbin, Jed L. (21 May 2004). Inside the Asylum: Why the UN and Old Europe are Worse Than You Think. Regnery Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89526-088-8.
  14. ^ "Roger D. Carstens". United States Department of State. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  15. ^ "The Pedagogy of Security: Police Assistance and Liberal Governmentality". www.academia.edu. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  16. ^ "The White House Announces National Finalists for the 2003-2004 Class of White House Fellows (Text Only)". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Roger D. Carstens - Foreign Policy Research Institute". www.fpri.org. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  18. ^ Broadwell, Paula; Loeb, Vernon (24 January 2012). All In: The Education of General David Petraeus. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-101-55230-8.
  19. ^ Williams, Paul D (4 March 2014). "Stabilising Somalia". The RUSI Journal. 159 (2): 52–60. doi:10.1080/03071847.2014.912803. ISSN 0307-1847. S2CID 155772938.
  20. ^ a b c "Opinion | Biden shouldn't replace this Trump administration official". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  21. ^ Chile, U. S. Mission (5 April 2019). "The United States and Partners Hold Event on Human Rights Violations and Abuses in Nicaragua". U.S. Embassy in Chile. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  22. ^ Geneva, U. S. Mission (28 June 2019). "Remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary Carstens at Event on Syrian Women Detainees". U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  23. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individual to a Key Administration Post – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  24. ^ a b Chalfant, Morgan (24 August 2022). "Some Trump appointees become critical figures for Biden". The Hill. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  25. ^ Loertscher, Cynthia. "Bringing Americans Home 2021" (PDF). James Foley Foundation.
  26. ^ Zagaris, Bruce (2022). "International Environmental Enforcement". International Enforcement Law Reporter. 38: 325.
  27. ^ a b "How a determined Jewish community brought home journalist Danny Fenster". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  28. ^ "US, Iran in 'indirect' talks over return of American hostages". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  29. ^ Hinds, Julie. "Michigan journalist Danny Fenster shares details of Myanmar jail release on '60 Minutes'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  30. ^ "American hostage Philip Walton rescued in dramatic military operation: Officials". ABC News. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  31. ^ Liptak, Jennifer Hansler,Kylie Atwood,Kevin (27 April 2022). "Inside the months-long effort to free Trevor Reed from detention in Russia | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 19 October 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ "Release of U.S. Citizen Trevor Reed from Russia". United States Department of State. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  33. ^ a b "US hostage envoy in Beirut to discuss missing Americans in Syria: Sources". Al Arabiya English. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Syria denies holding US journalist Austin Tice captive". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Venezuela releases 2 imprisoned Americans after rare trip by U.S. officials". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Venezuela releases 7 jailed Americans in exchange for 2 prisoners in U.S. custody". PBS NewsHour. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  37. ^ "US releases ally of Venezuela's President Maduro in a swap for 10 jailed Americans". ABC News. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  38. ^ Barnes, David M. (25 August 2016). The Ethics of Military Privatization: The US Armed Contractor Phenomenon. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-16500-2.
  39. ^ Lake, Eli (22 April 2013). "In 'The Project,' the Stormy Battle to Take On Somali Pirates". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Counterterrorism expert finds job he always 'Wanted' on NBC". Boston Herald. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  41. ^ "NBC News' The Wanted - An Interview with Roger D. Carstens". HistoryNet. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  42. ^ Sherman, Matt (2008). Cooling the Streets: Institutional Reforms in Iraq's Ministry of Interior. Institute for the Theory and Practice of International Relations at The College of William and Mary.
  43. ^ Carstens, Roger D. (2008). Changing the Culture of Pentagon Contracting. New America Foundation.
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