Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs

United States Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs
Seal of the United States Department of State
since March 2, 2020
NominatorThe President of the United States
AppointerSecretary of State
Website[1]

The special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, or more formally the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, was established in 2015, by an executive order pertaining to the recovery of U.S. hostages held by non-state actors and of U.S. citizens wrongfully detained by foreign states. The Special Presidential Envoy leads and coordinates activities across the Executive Branch to bring home those Americans.[2] The position was created in 2015 during the Obama administration.[3]

In February 2020, President Trump announced his intention to appoint Roger D. Carstens as the next special presidential envoy.[4]

In January of 2021, incoming President Joseph R. Biden and incoming Secretary of State Antony Blinken requested that Roger Carstens stay on into the Biden administration.[5]

Special Presidential Envoys

No. Officeholder Term start Term end Tenure length President(s)
1 Jim O'Brien August 28, 2015 January 20, 2017 1 year and 146 days Barack Obama
2 Robert C. O'Brien May 25, 2018 October 3, 2019 1 year and 132 days Donald Trump
– Hugh Dugan (Acting) October 4, 2019 March 1, 2020 150 days
3 Roger D. Carstens March 2, 2020 Present 4 years and 277 days
Donald Trump, Joe Biden

References

  1. ^ "Leadership – Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs".
  2. ^ "Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  3. ^ "Announcing the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs". whitehouse.gov. 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2020-08-26 – via National Archives.
  4. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individual to a Key Administration Post". whitehouse.gov. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020 – via National Archives.
  5. ^ "He helped Trump bring American hostages home. Now he's working for Biden". 13 March 2021.