Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah (; born 1926) is the most senior serving member and Sheikh of the House of Sabah and the only commander in the half-century history of the Kuwait National Guard. Early life and education Sheikh Salem is the eldest son of Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (1898–1928) and was born in Fereej Al-Shuyouk () in the designated area of Wast (). Career Construction and development (1950–1960) Salem debuted his career in the construction and development of the country during the discovery of oil in the 1950s; through its monetary revenue, Kuwait started to witness and experience an industrial growth on all levels around the country. Since then, Salem enlisted in the general public work sector, well before the forming of the Government of Kuwait, partaking and leading many development projects roles that were designed to build contemporary Kuwait in addition to setting the corps foundations of lifestyle and way of life in contemporary society today. During the early 1950s, Salem worked closely with Fahed Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Director of Public Works and the Municipality. He assumed the role of deputy director of His Excellency's offices for the both until 1959. During the same year, Salem headed the construction council and was in charge of planning and development, a very important post during the developing period of Kuwait. During that important time, Salem headed to his turn the Directorate of Public Works which was heavily concentrated on executing the major construction projects that founded today's Kuwait. During the early 1960s prior to the independence of Kuwait, Salem was appointed as director of the town council, when it was enacting its governing laws that would appoint a member of the House of Sabah at its head and organize the development of the country, preservation of public health, preservation of the environment, hygiene, greenery and set the pace for the development of pillar infrastructures. Independence 1961 Following the independence of Kuwait in 1961, Salem was a prime board member in the founding council that was tasked in formilzing and preparing the Constitution of Kuwait and headed the first Ministry of Public Works in the first Government of Kuwait formed following the independence in 1961 and the second government formed in 1963 respectively. Salem's ministerial participation and initial contribution led also to the enacting of the first legislative term of the National Assembly of Kuwait. Kuwait National Guard Patron The