Saudi king appoints new ambassador to US

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been appointed as the new ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Prince Khalid received a Bachelor of Aero Science from King Faisal Air Academy. He continued his studies in the United States at both Harvard University earning a certificate for Senior Executives in National and International Security. He also studied advanced electronic warfare in Paris, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

He began graduate work at Georgetown University pursuing a Master of Arts in Security Studies but his studies were suspended upon different job assignment and before his appointment as Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United States.

Upon his graduation from King Faisal Air Academy, Prince Khalid joined the Royal Saudi Air Force. He started his career as a pilot on the Texan-6 and T-38 in Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. He later began the F15-S Flying program as a pilot, and he was assigned as a Tactical Intelligence Officer in addition to flying F-15S in the 92nd Squadron for the 3rd Flying Wing at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Trained as a fighter pilot with almost 1,000 hours in total flight time, Prince Khalid has flown missions against "Daesh" as part of the International Coalition. He has also flown mission over Yemen as part of Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Restore Hope.

For his service in the Saudi Air Force, Prince Khalid has been widely decorated, including being awarded the Operation South Shield Medal; the Battlefield Medal; the Workmanship Medal; and Abdullah’s Sword Exercise Medal.

Prince Khalid trained extensively with the US military both in the United States and Saudi Arabia, including at Nellis Air Force Base in USA. A back injury forced him to stop flying, he worked as an officer in the office of the minister of defense.

Prince Khalid was appointed to office of the Minister of Defense after his active duty ended. He subsequently became a senior civilian adviser in the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense upon the completion of his active military service.

Late 2016, he moved to the United States and served as an advisor to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States.

Prince Khalid becomes the tenth Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States since 1945, SPA reported.
 

Source: BNA