Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He previously served as Deputy Minister of Defence and as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States at ministerial rank. [1][2][3][8]

His documented career extends from his appointment as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States in 2017, to his being awarded the Nishan-e-Pakistan in 2024, passing through his appointment as Deputy Minister of Defence in 2019 and then as Minister of Defence in 2022. [1][3][8][10]

Prince Khalid bin Salman holds a bachelor's degree in aviation sciences from King Faisal Air Academy and completed his education in the United States, where he earned from Harvard University the "Senior Executives in National and International Security" certificate. He studied advanced electronic warfare in Paris and began his postgraduate studies at Georgetown University, specialising in security studies. [1]

He trained as a fighter pilot with a total of nearly 1000 flight hours, and carried out aerial missions against the Daesh organisation as part of the international coalition, in addition to a mission in the airspace of Yemen as part of Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Restoring Hope. [1]

During his military service he was granted four decorations: the Southern Shield Medal, the Battle Medal, the Proficiency Medal, and the Sword of Abdullah Medal. [1]

Before his appointment as ambassador, Prince Khalid bin Salman served as an adviser in the Office of the Minister of Defence, and then as an adviser at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington. [2]

A Royal Order was issued appointing him Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States at ministerial rank on 25 Rajab 1438 AH, corresponding to 22 April 2017. [1] He presented his credentials to the President of the United States and formally assumed his post on 21 July 2017. [2]

A Royal Order was issued appointing Prince Khalid bin Salman Deputy Minister of Defence. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for the royal confidence, when he received the civilian and military personnel of the Ministry of Defence on 19 Jumada al-Akhirah 1440 AH, corresponding to 24 February 2019. [3]

The Chief of the General Staff, First Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, congratulated Prince Khalid bin Salman on the issuance of the Royal Order appointing him Deputy Minister of Defence. [4]

At his office in Al-Mu'addhar he met the Deputy Minister of Defence of Korea, and the two sides reviewed bilateral relations, particularly in the defence field, on 27 Sha'ban 1440 AH, corresponding to 2 May 2019. [5] During a visit to the United Arab Emirates he met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the two discussed strategic cooperation in defence and military affairs on 7 Safar 1441 AH, corresponding to 6 October 2019. [6]

In Muscat, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur, Sultan of Oman, received Prince Khalid bin Salman, Deputy Minister of Defence, within the framework of his official visit to the Sultanate of Oman on 9 Rajab 1441 AH, corresponding to 4 March 2020. [7]

The royal confidence was issued appointing Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Minister of Defence, and congratulations followed on 2 Rabi' al-Awwal 1444 AH, corresponding to 28 September 2022. [8]

Among those congratulations was that of the Chief of the General Staff, First Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, to Prince Khalid bin Salman on the royal confidence appointing him Minister of Defence. [9]

On 13 Ramadan 1445 AH, corresponding to 23 March 2024, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, awarded Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defence, the highest civil award of Pakistan, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, in appreciation of his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations, at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad. [10]

Q: Who is Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud? A: He is the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he previously held the post of Deputy Minister of Defence and served as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States at ministerial rank. [1][2][3][8]

Q: What are his academic and military qualifications? A: A bachelor's degree in aviation sciences from King Faisal Air Academy, the "Senior Executives in National and International Security" certificate from Harvard University, the study of advanced electronic warfare in Paris, and postgraduate studies in security studies at Georgetown University. [1]

Q: What is his experience in military aviation? A: He trained as a fighter pilot with a total of nearly 1000 flight hours, and carried out aerial missions against the Daesh organisation as part of the international coalition, and a mission in the airspace of Yemen as part of Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Restoring Hope. [1]

Q: What official posts has he held? A: Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States at ministerial rank in 2017, then Deputy Minister of Defence in 2019, then Minister of Defence in 2022. [1][2][3][8]

Q: What awards has he been granted? A: Military decorations: the Southern Shield Medal, the Battle Medal, the Proficiency Medal, and the Sword of Abdullah Medal, and the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest civil award of Pakistan, in 2024. [1][10]