The Sudairis consolidated their hold over these fiefs by appointing their brothers and sons to their own ministries and other key positions. Prince Sultan appointed one of his younger Sudairi brothers – Prince Abdul Rahman – and one of his own sons – Prince Khalid – as his deputies. Another of Prince Sultan’s sons, Prince Bandar, served for two decades as Saudi ambassador in Washington and then head of the Saudi National Security Council. His other son Prince Khalid, the co-commander with U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf in the Gulf War (1991), became vice defence minister. Prince Nayef also appointed one of his sons – Muhammad – as his deputy at the ministry of the interior.