Roger Carstens is an American diplomat and retired United States Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel. He served as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) from 2020 to 2025, a role in which he negotiated the release of over a dozen Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. His efforts led to the release of individuals such as Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, Emad Shargi, Evan Gershkovich, and Trevor Reed.