had to call and ask for help. It's much better… [we] feel like he's really there for the families.” Carstens supported President Biden's executive order that seeks to help American's unlawfully detained abroad and prevent such wrongful detentions. He told NPR "I think overall the sanction tool is going to offer a chance to deter people in the long term when they see it being used. But whether it's going to specifically be the spring that gets Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan free - that is yet to be seen." Afghanistan In 2022, Carstens negotiated the release of Mark Frerichs as a part of a prisoner exchange for Bashir Noorzai. Iran Carstens has engaged in indirect conversations with Iranian officials to secure the release of Americans being held by the Iranian government. Myanmar In 2021, Carstens assisted in the release of American journalist Danny Fenster along with former Governor Bill Richardson. Carstens appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss his involvement in the case. Nigeria Carstens assisted in the 2020 Nigeria hostage rescue mission of Philip Walton. Walton had been kidnapped from his home in Southern Niger by armed group and taken to Nigeria. Russia In April 2022, Carstens negotiated the release of Trevor Reed as part of a prisoner exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot convicted of drug smuggling. President Biden praised Carstens for his work to secure the release of Reed. He has worked to secure the release of Paul Whelan (security director) and Brittney Griner. Syria Carstens travelled to Syria during the Presidency of Donald Trump to try to negotiate for the release of Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz. The Syrian government continues to deny holding Tice. Venezuela Carstens has helped negotiate the release of nine Americans from Venezuela during his time as the head of hostage affairs. In March 2022, he negotiated the release of Gustavo Cárdenas, a member of the Citgo Six and also American Jorge Alberto Fernández. In October 2022, Carstens negotiated a prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of seven Americans, including the remaining five of the Citgo Six, Matthew John Heath, and Osman Khan. Media Projects Carstens appeared in "The Project," a documentary film that documents Carstens works a contracted military advisor to support the Somali people in their efforts to combat the rise of piracy off the coast of Somalia. Carstens was featured in NBC's "The Wanted," as an expert in