Sheikh. Nawaf Bin Mubarak Al-Thani

  Nawaf M. Al-Thani is a Columnist at Qatar's Al-Raya Newspaper (Arabic), Writer, and Lecturer in International Relations and Defense, focusing on Small State Security, MENA Defense writings, and Defense Intelligence Operations studies and methodologies.

​

He previously served with the rank of Brigadier General as Director Of Defense Intelligence Operations in the State of Qatar. 

As a Diplomat, he served as the State of Qatar's Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché to the United States of America, Canada, and the

The United Mexican States. And before that, as the Official Spokesperson and Director of Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) at the Qatar Ministry of Defense.

​

Al-Thani has served in several foreign military deployments, including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Odyssey Dawn, and Operation Unified Protector, as well in several humanitarian missions globally, including membership in the Arab League Humanitarian Observer mission to Syria in 2012.

​

Nawaf has received distinguished commendations and citations from the Qatar Armed Forces, The U.S. Military, several NATO militaries, and multinational organizations. He also received the French Republic's Army Parachute Infantry Regiment Airborne wings "Brevet parachutiste militair", the Qatar Armed Forces Airborne wings, and Commando tab.

 

He earned his LL.B from Qatar University and an M.Res in Defense Studies from Kings College London (U.K.). He graduated with distinction from the inaugural class (Class No.1) of the Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military Academy (Qatar) and is also a General Command & Staff graduate with honors from the Joaan bin Jassim Academy for Defense Studies (Qatar).

​

He currently serves as an Advisory Committee Member in Georgetown University's Small States Research Program (Qatar), as a Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (Washington, D.C.), and as a Member of the Board Of Directors of the Gulf International Forum (Washington, D.C).