The US Ambassador to the State of Bahrain from 1989-1993 (during the Persian Gulf War), Dr. Hostler also has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Commerce and Director of the Bureau of International Commerce in the Department of Commerce.  Currently, he is the honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Bahrain, a position he has held since 1993.

Hostler graduated from UCLA in January 1942 – just one month after the attack on Pearl Harbor and entered the Army Air Force as an ROTC second lieutenant.  His fluency in French and military intelligence training led to an assignment to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, predecessor to the CIA).  Hostler was in the X-2 section for Allied counterintelligence and deception operations during the invasion of Europe in World War II.  His special counter-espionage unit landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France.  General Dwight Eisenhower said that the OSS’s covert contributions had been  equivalent to having another military division in Europe.

On June 6, 2004, during the celebrations of the 60^th anniversary of the D-Day landings, French President Jacques Chirac personally presented him with the French Legion of Honor in the presence of 17 heads of state.  Hostler has received decorations from nine foreign countries and four religious leaders.

In addition to his UCLA degree, Hostler earned master’s and doctorate degrees in Political Science from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the American University of Beirut.  He received two honorary Ph.D.’s, one from the American University of Beirut and the other from Columbia College.  Hostler has written three books, including the memoirs Soldier to Ambassador (published by San Diego State University), for which he obtained security clearances from the CIA for certain chapters due to secret and sensitive material regarding his clandestine missions. 

Hostler has been a soldier, scholar, businessman, diplomat and philanthropist.  His long-time aspiration was achieved in 2007 when his donation of the Charles Hostler Student Center, consisting of 5 buildings, was completed at the American University of Beirut.  This Student Center houses an auditorium, recreational facilities, a gym, basketball courts, squash courts, a pool, a track and field area, and a food court.  He also donated land as a Children’s Park on Antiparos Island, Greece, and supports SDSU’s Charles Hostler Institute on World Affairs.

After retiring as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Hostler continued to offer distinguished service to the world community.  His many civic and educational activities have included: Member, Board of Governors; Middle East Institute; Chairman, Board of Directors, People-to-People International; President, San Diego Consular Corps; Member, International Affairs Board of the City of San Diego; Member (and past Chairman), California State Park and Recreation Commission (1983-1989); Public Member (and twice Chairman), Local Agency Formation Commission of San Diego County (1979-1989); Public Member (and past Chairman), California Contractors State License Board.

His private sector pursuits include service in the following positions: Director of International Operations, the McDonnell Douglas Corporation; Regional Vice-President, E-Systems Inc.; President, Pacific Southwest Capital Corporation, Hostler Investment Company and Hostler Leasing Company.

Among his awards and recognitions are: US Legion of Merit; Purple Heart; Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award; David Rockefeller Spirit of Service Award from the International Executive Service Corps (13 volunteer assignments in different countries); French Commemorative Medal awarded as a D-Day veteran of Utah Beach landing on June 6, 1944; US State Department’s “Foreign Affairs Award for Public Service” (highest State Department award to a non-career officer); Knight Grand Cross Order of St. John, Knights of Malta; Grand Commander, Order of Holy Sepulchre; 2005 UCLA Public Service Award; and, the French Legion of Honor.

Charles Hostler has traveled to 170 countries and lived for more than 20 years in the Middle East, serving as an expert on the region.  He resides in Coronado, California, with his wife, Chin-Yeh.

Charles W. Hostler

Institute on World Affairs

San Diego State University

Charles W. Hostler