HRH Navy Captain (Ret.) Prince Sultan bin Khalid Al-Faisal Al Sa’ud, former commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Counter-Insurgency Special Operations Task Force and a graduate of the US Navy SEAL program and US Army Special Forces Qualification Course will discuss the current Middle East security situation and the growing leadership role of the Saudi Kingdom.
In October 2015, Prince Sultan, told an audience on Capitol Hill that Saudi Arabia is prepared to lead the Middle East against a host of threats, including “increasing Iranian incursion into other states’ affairs” and the turmoil that has followed the Arab Spring. [Oct 6, 2015, Al-Monitor]
Prince Sultan, a grandson of the late Saudi King Faisal, is the former commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Counter-Insurgency Special Operations Task Force; Designer and Inaugural Commandant, RSNF Special Forces Training Center. He is a graduate of the US Navy SEAL program (BUD/S) class 189, US Army Special Forces Qualification Course (Q Course) class 1-94, US Army Airborne School 1993, and the British Royal College of Defence Studies. He is currently President, Al Joshan Security Services.
As the need for counter-insurgency forces arose in 2007, Prince Sultan was appointed to build and command a counter-insurgency special operations task force (Task Force 88), which played a leading role in Operation Southern Shield during the 2009-2010 Houthi incursion into Saudi Arabian territory. In addition to his developing the RSNF’s counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency special operations programs, he was responsible for revamping the RSNF’s special operations training program as well as re-establishing the readiness evaluation criteria for deployment. On a strategic level, Prince Sultan served as advisor on multiple committees tasked to define the KSA Ministry of Defense’s possible contribution to national counter-terrorism efforts.
Prince Sultan’s efforts in building and modernizing the RSNF’s Special Forces culminated in his leading the development and design of the RSNF Special Forces Training Center. During this assignment, he and his team shaped the role of special operations within the RSNF’s participation in Combined Task Force-151, a multinational maritime task force undertaking anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. Shortly before retirement, Prince Sultan was appointed Commandant of the Center, which received its first class in 2012.
During his 20-year tenure with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), Prince Sultan commanded on numerous levels, and participated in field operations in both combat and counter-terrorism operations.
Prince Sultan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and a Master of Military Arts from the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College with a thesis titled “The Development of Special Operations in Saudi Arabia.” Prince Sultan is a recipient of the Medal of Bravery and has been knighted Chevalier by the French L’ordre National de la Légion d’honneur.
This seminar is off the record and nothing said can be published or quoted without the consent of the speaker.
