Joseph W. Westphal

Who is Joseph W. Westphal?

Joseph W. Westphal has served United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia since March, 2014, and was the 30th United States Under Secretary of the Army and the Army’s first Chief management Officer. He has had a distinguished career of service in both academia and government.

Dr. Westphal served as Chancellor of the University of Maine System and Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine. He also served as the Provost, Senior Vice President for Research and Professor of Environmental Studies at The New School in New York City. Prior to his current appointment, Under Secretary Westphal served as a member of President Obama’s Transition Team for Defense matters.

Dr. Westphal spent his first 12 years in academia as a professor in the Department of Political Science at Oklahoma State University, later becoming head of the Department. During his many years of public service, Dr. Westphal has lectured at numerous universities around the world and taught public policy as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University while working in Washington DC.

In addition to a distinguished academic career, Dr. Westphal has led a prestigious and varied career in public service as well. In 2001, he served as the Acting Secretary of the Army and earlier, he served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works from 1998 to 2001.