Ron Terrell served 20 years in the US Navy, retiring as a commander, the same rank as the well-known character of adventure created by another prior naval officer, Ian Fleming. He was a Foreign Area Officer, specializing in Arabic and the Middle East.

Originally educated as a civil engineer at Purdue University, Ron transitioned to the world of international relations after receiving a master’s degree in security studies at the U.S. Naval War College. He then studied Middle East history, culture, and language at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. He honed his regional knowledge and language skills while serving as a Foreign Area Officer in U.S. Naval Forces Central Command where he was responsible for maritime engagement with Yemeni and Omani naval forces.

Ron lived in Bahrain for three years during the height of the Arab Spring and often travelled to Yemen during the strengthening years of the Houthi movement. Ron specifically worked in Yemen with local naval forces, and at times with US special forces, to enhance the operational cooperation between the two countries. His work in-country inspired him to write The Last Cocktail in Yemen, his first novel which captures the excitement, passion, and danger of a life in the middle of the Houthi insurgency. Combining the action of Jack Ryan with the romance of Casablanca, his novel is a truly unforgettable tale of love, betrayal, and salvation.

After nearly 30 years of living in different locales around the world, Ron finally settled in Puerto Rico. When he’s not writing he spends his time diving, walking the beach, and drinking rum.