Mr. Les Janka

President, Quincy International, Saudi Arabia

In June, 2010, Les Janka was appointed President, Saudi Arabia, for Quincy International after serving from 2007 as President of Raytheon Arabian Systems Company and Vice President, Network Centric Systems Operations, based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prior to joining Raytheon, Mr. Janka distinguished himself as an international affairs expert during a 30-year career as a consultant, business executive and multiple assignments in the U.S. government including high level tours on the National Security Council Staff and at the Department of Defense. 

In the government sector, Mr. Janka served in the White House under three Presidents: as Special Assistant to Dr. Henry Kissinger, Senior Staff Member on the NSC under President Ford and a member of President Nixon’s delegation to Saudi Arabia in 1974. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern and African Affairs, he oversaw several major arms sales to Saudi Arabia including that of the F-15. He later returned to the White House as Special Assistant to President Reagan and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

In the private sector, Mr. Janka led the Middle East and Africa government relations and trade advisory practice as executive vice president of one of Washington’s premier foreign policy lobbying and public affairs firms. As an international consultant, he has advised major U.S. and European companies resulting in sales of their military, telecommunications and commercial applications in Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Janka’s distinguished public service is also represented by his serving as Vice President of the National Council for US-Arab Relations, as Founder Chairman of the Council for American-Saudi Dialogue, as Chairman of the Board of American Near East Refugee Aid, and as a frequent lecturer and author on the Washington political scene, Middle East affairs and the formulation of US national security policy.

A native of California, he received his BA degree in economics from the University of Redlands and his MA degree in international economics and Middle East studies from the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University.