John Limbert was a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy and the author of numerous books and articles on Iran. During a 34-year diplomatic career, he served mostly in the Middle East and Islamic Africa (including two tours in Iraq), was Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and – while on leave from his teaching post at the Naval Academy — served as deputy assistant secretary of state responsible for Iranian affairs. He worked in Iran as a university and high school teacher, first as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1964 to 1966 and served at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, where he was held hostage in 1979-81.