CSO Event: Wrongful Detentions: A Conversation with Ambassador Roger Carstens

News sources have recently reported that U.S. Persons are now being taken hostage more often by foreign governments than by terrorist, militant, and other groups.  Back in October, we had a session that featured both Hostage US and Hostage International to discuss ‘Is your organization prepared to support an affected employee’s family’ who is wrongfully detained. 

In follow-up to that initial session, we are delighted to have Ambassador Roger Carstens, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), join us to continue the conversation on wrongful or unlawful detention cases involving U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs).  He will provide an overview of the SPEHA Office overseeing these cases and how its supported by the Robert Levinson Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act.  We also look forward to learning from Amb. Carstens about some of the leadership lessons he has gain through his career, including serving in the United States Army Special Forces to overseeing international humanitarian aid missions.   

Speaker: Ambassador Roger Carstens, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), US Department of State

Roger D. Carstens is the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) at the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Carstens was the former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State, where he oversaw the Bureau’s work in Near Eastern Affairs, Western Hemisphere Affairs, and the Office of Security and Human Rights. Previously, he served in Amman, Jordan, as the Country Director for a U.S.-based INGO that provided humanitarian assistance and stability support to Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons. Prior positions include Senior Civilian Advisor on the Commander’s Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) in Afghanistan; Project Director for an INGO based in Somalia; Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security; and Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Carstens is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who served in Special Forces and the 1st Ranger Battalion. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and holds master’s degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and St. John’s College.

Moderator: Cris Bohanski, Director, Global Safety & Security, Orbis International

Registration for this event is limited to CSO Center Members. Learn more about the CSO Center.