Joel Starr is currently a Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Leadership Network, and served as the deputy assistant secretary of state for regional security in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs during the first Trump Administration, where his division contributed the defense component to the 2020 Abraham Accords.

In that capacity he also oversaw $40 billion in Foreign Military Sales & Financing and Third Party and Excess Defense Article transfers, and was responsible for $6.5 billion in State Department, and $9 billion in Defense Department security sector assistance programs.

Other previous public service positions include time as counsel for foreign and military affairs to Senator James Inhofe (R-OK); deputy assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs; acting deputy assistant administrator for legislative and public affairs at USAID; counsel and foreign affairs legislative assistant to Congressman Tom Campbell (R-CA); as well as attorney/advisor to former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Jack Kemp..