Washington, DC - Friday, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key position in his Administration:

Roger D. Carstens of Virginia, to be the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Roger D. Carstens is currently a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department of State, where he oversees the Bureau’s work in Near Eastern Affairs, Western Hemisphere Affairs, and the Office of Security and Human Rights.  Mr. Carstens previously worked overseas with international NGOs in Somalia and Jordan, where he provided humanitarian assistance and stability support to Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons.  He was a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Carstens retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel with 20 years of service, including in the Special Forces, 1st Ranger Battalion, and as Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he holds a master’s degree from the United States Naval War College and St. John’s College.