It is common to meet professionals well versed in their narrow specialties: the engineer describing his latest design or the military commander analyzing a new weapons system.
Meeting Brig. Gen. Rezeq Alrawashdeh, then-director of the Royal Jordanian National Defence College, you discover a scholar with a deep interest in diverse topics. He is equally comfortable discussing poetry, philosophy and history as he is military tactics and strategy.
The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army has called on Brig. Gen. Alrawashdeh’s talents to occupy many influential posts during his decades-long military career. After his service at the defense college, he was promoted in late 2026 to be Assistant Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Operations and Training. Another important posting was as Jordan’s Senior National Representative at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, where he was part of a consultative body of military officers from around the world.
“I consider my work at Central Command to be one of the most significant assignments of my military career. Engaging with friendly nations allows us to gain extensive experience while simultaneously strengthening the relationships between our respective countries,” Brig. Gen. Alrawashdeh said.
“Central Command encompasses a highly complex area of responsibility; consequently, we sometimes worked around the clock to ensure regional stability. Through daily briefings, we remained fully apprised of events unfolding across the globe and their direct impact on other regions.”
Other assignments also provided a variety of experiences: head of the Testing Division in the War Operations Directorate; head of the Operations and Training Division in the Northern Military Region Command; commandant at the College of Military Science; commander of the Prince Hassan bin Talal 60th Armored Brigade; and director of the Special Military Office of His Majesty the Supreme Commander.
As he moved through the senior ranks, he earned the honor of serving as commandant of the National Defence College, where he could share his insights to shape younger military officers.
“At the National Defence College, we analyze security threats and strive to devise sustainable solutions. We work to cultivate future leaders capable of managing crises under the most arduous circumstances,” he said.
“Indeed, in light of the grave events unfolding across the region, we must forge leaders endowed with exceptional capabilities, leaders who can navigate these challenges, safeguard national security and preserve the interests of the nation.”
To prepare himself for senior-level leadership positions, Brig. Gen. Alrawashdeh familiarized himself with most facets of the Jordan Armed Forces through a vast array of field training and coursework.
His military education included the Junior Officers’ Course, specialized paratrooper training, specialized commando training, armored warfare, chemical warfare, urban combat, infantry tactics, battlefield intelligence, strategic leadership and joint intelligence analysis. He also pursued advanced military studies in the United States, the United Kingdom and Romania.
Brig. Gen. Alrawashdeh believes commanding officers and their soldiers must establish relationships built on trust and respect.
“An officer should treat his soldiers as he would a son or a younger brother; indeed, a successful officer keeps his door open, listens to his soldiers’ concerns and works to find solutions. It is this approach that fosters cohesion within a military unit, enabling it to execute its mission in the most effective manner possible,” he said. “Loyalty is earned through respect, not fear.”
That sense of loyalty and admiration extends to his commander in chief, His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein.
“A successful military commander is one who spares his country the ravages of war, one who achieves victory before ever having to pull the trigger. This is precisely what I see in His Majesty King Abdullah II,” Brig. Gen. Alrawashdeh said.
“When one observes the instability, warfare and devastation surrounding Jordan, one finds that — thanks to God and His Majesty’s wise leadership — the kingdom remains steady in safeguarding national security against any breaches. It is a monumental achievement for a leader to be able to shield his country from regional conflicts that spill across borders, or from the attempts of certain states with malicious intentions to drag secure nations into turmoil.”
Brig. Gen. Alrawashdeh’s military career is replete with achievements and decorations. These include international honors such as the United Nations Medal and the International Peacekeeping Forces Participation Medal, and Jordanian decorations such as the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence (1st Class) and the Long and Faithful Service Badge.
Reflecting on his leadership of the National Defence College, the brigadier general takes a wider view of his place within the prominent establishment created 40 years ago by His Majesty the late King Hussein ibn Al-Talal.
“I view my job at the college as a waypoint where an officer pauses during his career to build upon the achievements of his predecessors,” Brig. Gen. Alrawashdeh said. “He must work with utmost dedication to leave his own distinct mark on the college before handing the role over to his successor.
“I take pride in every position I have held; each holds a special place in my heart, along with cherished memories and the colleagues with whom I served.”
Editor’s note: After the composition of this article, Brig. Gen. Rezeq Alrawashdeh left the National Defence College to command Jordan’s Northern Command.