Roger D. Carstens

Roger D. Carstens was formerly a Senior Fellow in FPRI’s Program on National Security as well as a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation with their National Security Studies Program. Until recently he served as the senior civilian advisor on the Commander, International Security and Assistance Force (COMISAF) Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT). He is a retired Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel whose last posting was to serve as an advisor to the Iraqi National Counter Terror Force in Baghdad, Iraq. Prior to his tour in Iraq, he served as a legislative liaison for the Secretary of Defense. As an Army Ranger, he participated in a combat parachute assault during the invasion of Panama and later commanded three Army Special Forces Companies.

While he was a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), he testified before Congress on his report “The Future of Special Operations.” Additionally, he co-wrote the “Independent Task Force on Progress and Reform” report on the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and “Changing the Culture of Pentagon Contracting,” published by the New America Foundation.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.