Global Tennessee Podcast – Ep 6 – David Des Roches – Saudi Arabia: Relationship on the Rocks

Pat Ryan talks with Prof. David Des Roches (Col, USArmy Ret.) from the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. He is an expert on Middle East affairs, especially US-Saudi relations and talked about the crisis in the relationship since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. Prof. Des Roches also provides insights and perspectives on developments in the Middle East and the challenges to US policymakers.

About Professor Des Roches

David Des Roches is an Associate Professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies. Prior to this, he was the director responsible for defense policy concerning Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Prior to this assignment, he has served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the DoD Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, as the senior country director for Pakistan, as the NATO operations director, and as the deputy director for peacekeeping. His first job in government was as a special assistant for strategy and later as the international law enforcement analyst in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

A British Marshall Scholar, he has also attended the Federal Executive Institute, the German Staff College’s Higher Officer Seminar, the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and the US Army Command and General Staff College.

An Airborne Ranger in the Army Reserve, he was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan. He has commanded conventional and special operations parachute units and has served on the US Special Operations Command staff as well as on the Joint Staff.