Dr. William Ruger, who taught Texas State’s Department of Political Science from 2007-2015, was nominated by President Trump as America’s Ambassador to Afghanistan on September 10th, 2020.
Dr. Ruger is the author of several books including Milton Friedman (Continuum, 2011) and Freedom in the 50 States (George Mason University, 2013). His articles span a wide variety of academic and popular venues including Armed Forces in Society, International Studies Quarterly, and State Politics and Policy Quarterly, Reason, The American Conservative, the Washington Post, the Austin American Statesman, USA Today, and the New York Daily News.
He currently serves as Vice President for Research and Policy at the Charles Koch Institute and Vice President for Foreign Policy at Stand Together. He serves on several non-profit boards, including the Board of Directors of the Center for the National Interest and the Advisory Board of the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law.
A veteran of the Afghanistan War and an officer in the United States Navy (Reserve Component), Dr. Ruger earned a Special Operations Warfighter Certificate from the Joint Special Operations University in Tampa, Florida and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star.
During his time at Texas State, he taught numerous classes including U.S. Foreign Policy, International Conflict and Security, Civil-Military Relations and Ethics, and International Relations. Ruger was awarded his A.B. degree from The College of William and Mary and his Ph.D. from Brandeis University.
“Dr. Ruger was an extremely valuable member faculty,” noted Kenneth Grasso, the department’s chair. “We’re extremely proud to see a former Texas State colleague nominated to this important post.”
The official White House press release can be read here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-following-individual-key-administration-post-091020/.
