 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.Ambassador Carstens is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who served in Special Forces and the 1st Ranger Battalion.