ZAID AL-ZARAOY

***** ***** ***, *** ***

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

adusce@r.postjobfree.com

(C) 571-***-****

Security Clearance:

Secret

Career Summary:

I have 10 years of experience as an Arabic Linguist and greater than 8.5 years of experience as a Culture Advisor with the United States Military. Furthermore, I have more than 3 years of experience as a Local Governance Advisor and over 4 years as a consultant was achieved. During this time, I established close working relationship between the PRT and the Director of Muthanna Governorate Election office (GEO), resulting in an estimated 61% of Muthanna’s eligible voters who participated in the election representing the 2nd highest voter turnout in Iraq. Additionally, I facilitated the establishment of 15 direct municipal throughout the DHI-QAR province. This location had the first election after Iraq was liberated, which had a voter participation rate over 65%. I further counseled the PRT, who sought approval for a grant worth 192,000 to support Al Rafidain Women’s organization and network of 9 other Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) in executing a voter education and media campaign throughout Muthanna Province. In addition, I served as the Local Governance Advisor to the PRT on a wide range of governance, rule of law for the public sector of development, and handled private sector development initiatives. I was recognized as an expert during this time and provided professional Arabic to English translation and acted as a Culture Advisor to many high-ranking government officials from the US, coalition forces, and Iraqi in dangerous locations within Iraq. Additionally, I was employed at car dealership as a Valet Service Representative for 5 years with almost 2 years of experience as a Sales Representative.

Skill Set:

Excellent verbal and written communication in Arabic and English. Can translate with clarity in English and Arabic and professionally handle customer interaction in both languages

Trained communications in interrogation and customer service

In-depth experience of the Middle East region dialects and cultures

Problem -solving, Advising, detail-oriented, mission driven individual

Fluency in Arabic (5 proficiency for native language), and English (3+ proficiency), No DLP tests taken to determine actual proficiencies

Recognition:

Recognized by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for skills in multi-lingual document, writing, and translation

Project to support Al Rafidain Women’s organization and network of 9 other Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) in executing a voter education and media campaign throughout Muthanna Province was reported to Special Inspector General of Iraq (SIGIR) as one of the PRTs most effective initiatives

Professional Experience:

Valiant Integrated services, Baghdad, Iraq. 8/21/2021 to 3/7/2022

linguist, and Coordinator.

Office of Security Cooperation – Iraq.

J4/ LOG OPS & EUM Team

Department of State

U.S. Embassy – Baghdad & BDSC.

Worldwide Language Resources, Erbil, Syria. 7/2019 to 12/2019

Culture advisor and Operational Linguist with USSOCOM.

. Worked as a linguist and Cultural Advisor for the DoD and Deployed 4 times to Overseas Continental US. (OCONUS) locations, professionally providing Arabic to English translation to more than 20 department officials

. Professionally directed linguist support and acted as a culture Advisor for the Joint Special Operations Task Force comprised of the U.S. military and federal agency personal in an intense and fast-paced operational environment

. Routinely provided translation/interpretation for the Interrogation team (IT) that is attached to Joint task Force under Operation Inherent Resolve’s (IOR) global pursuit of Counterintelligence (CI) in Iraq and Syria for the 6-month period provided interrogations.

. Expertly provided culture understanding to the U.S. military and host nation officials

. Routinely acted as a critical focal point managing the liaison relationship with several host nation officials

Worldwide Language Resources, Erbil, Iraq. 7/2018 to 10/2018

Cultural Advisor and Arabic Language

. Provided linguist support to the Joint Special Operation Task Force conducting interrogations

. Translated captured enemy material from Arabic to English to assist in multidiscipline technical exploitation

. Transcribe and translate Audio files for exploitation analysis and interrogation support.

. Provided linguist support to source handlers to conduct clandestine Military Source operation

ABM Government Services, Kirkuk, Iraq. 12/2017 to 04/2018

Culture Advisor and Arabic Linguist

. Professionally orchestrated linguist support for the operation room during the IOR for the U.S. Army Battalion

. Expertly provided cultural understanding to the U.S. military and host nation officials

. Routinely acted as acritical focal point managing the liaison relationship with several host nation officials

. Worked 7 days a week 10 hours a day providing linguist support for the U.S military and federal agency personal.

Springfield Toyota, Springfield, Virginia. 09/2014 to 07/2015

Valet Service Representative.

. Professionally communicated with over 20 customers daily and another dealership personal

. Tested and drove over 25 vehicles for quality assurance and dealer to dealer car exchange

Ourisman Toyota, Fairfax, Virginia 12/2012 to 09/2014

Valet and Sales Representative

. Professionally communicated with over 20 customers daily and another dealership personal

. Tested and drove over 25 vehicles for quality assurance and dealer to dealer car exchange.

Chrysler Jeep, Farish of Fairfax, Virginia 05/2010 to 12/2012

Valet Service Representative

. Professionally communicated with over 20 customers daily and another dealership personal

. Test and drove over 25 vehicles for quality assurance and dealer to dealer car exchange

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), Al-Muthanna Province, Iraq 10/2006 to 08/2009

Local Governance Advisor, Consultant, and Cultural Advisor. (DoS)

. Established close working relationships between the PRT and the Director of Muthanna Governorate Election office (GEO), resulting in an estimated 61% of Muthanna’s eligible voters who participated in the election representing the 2nd highest voter turnout in Iraq

. Managed as the local Governance Advisor to the PRT on a wide range of governance, rule of law for the public sector of development, and handled private sector development initiative

. Counseled the PRT, who sought approval for a grant worth $192,000, to support Al Rafidain women’s organization and a network of 9 other Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) in executing a voter education and media campaign throughout Muthanna province. the project was reported to Special Inspector General of Iraq (SIGIR) as one of the PRTs most effective initiatives

. Collaborated with the Provincial Council, Governor’s office, Chief Judge, and other high-ranking public officials in revising the Provincial Development Strategy

. Recommended, monitored, and evaluated 15 projects that funded micro grants, regarding investment dealing with private sector development all over Muthanna district under the PRT

. Facilitated the establishment of 15 direct municipal elections throughout Dhi-Qar province. This location had the first election after Iraq was liberated, which had a voter participation rate over 65%

British Department for International Development, Nasiriyah, Iraq. 04/2005 to 09/2006

Interpreter, Consultant, cultural Advisor.

. Coordinated and translated for 7 international seminars and managed over 50 local officials from the public and private meetings about planning and implementing the first PDS

. Facilitated DFIDs introduction of the first Provincial Development Strategy in Dhi-qar and Muthanna provinces by establishing working groups with a diver’s range of stakeholders in the public and private sectors

. Interpreted for DFID advisors who conducted training in strategic planning, budget preparation, and project management for the Provincial Council and Governor’s office

. Served as a liaison with local and represented DFID at seminars

Italian Joint Task force, Nassiryah,Iraq. 06/2004 to 04/2005

Special Assistant to the political Advisor, Cultural Advisor, Arabic linguist

. Provided several political dynamic assessments about the southern region of Iraq

. Studied, red, and learned the Italian language for an average of 2b hours a day to be able to work with the Italian military and personal

Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) DHI-QAR, Province, Iraq. 06/2003 to 06/2004

Chief Linguist of the Governorate Coordination Team. (DoS)

. Managed a group of 12 translator during assignments, and conferences

. Assisted in facilitating the planning and implementation of election for the 1st Provincial Council and 15 districts and their city councils throughout Dhi-qar region

. Acted as the Special Assistant of the 4 of the Coordinators for CPA, organized, coordinated, facilitated, and advised on average 10 weekly meetings, in which we had visits from other government officials from area within Iraq

. Interpreted under difficult and sometimes hostile circumstances, for the CPA political Advisor to mediate local conflicts and secure community support for new democratic initiatives to build the new Iraq

. Aided with the restoration of over 25 essential public services

. Coordinated for over 200 mediations between CPA and all areas of the Iraqi society

Civil Military Operation Center (CMOC), Nasiriyah, Iraq. 05/2003 to 06/2003

Arabic Linguist, and Cultural Advisor.

. Facilitated on average 20 weekly meetings providing translation with CMOC and heads of the local government department for restoring essential public services and increasing the building capacity personal to work

. Coordinated setup for the weekly meetings for the local government officials’ heads

U.S. Marine Corps, and 4th Civil Affairs group, Nasiriyah Iraq. 04/2003 to 05/2003

Arabic Linguist and cultural Advisor.

. Expertly translated for over 150 local government officials and over 100 civilian personal to gather Intel. Coordinated and professionally translated for over 50 collateral damage cases

. Assisted the Marines performing security for the surrounding outside areas (performing perimeter checks) and inside the buildings, homes, etc.

Language Skills:

. Accurately translate reports/texts. Abstract language showing an ability capture intended implications and many nuances. Generally, capture geopolitical, regional, ethnic, and cultural elements in text

. Ability and accuracy in consecutive, and simultaneous interpretation

. Transcription reviewing audio or internet materials with high degree of accuracy and expression

. Gusting, summarizing, triage documentation to isolate pertinent and nuanced info.

. Good understanding of the middle East region dialectics; Gulf countries, yamen, Egypt, Levantine, Iraqi, Sudan, and north Africa

Computer Applications and Technology: Strong hands-on experience in various computer software applications; to include MS/Excel/office/Power point and internet search.

Education: B.S. Degree in Law Studies, 3.5 of 4 years completed. 1986 to 1990.

Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Volunteer Activities:

National Language Service Corp, Arlington, Virginia. 2017 to Present.

Language Consultant Volunteer.

. Expert Language Consultant.

. Participated proactively in on-call activities for active engagement, mission support and deployment with federal agencies as needed.

Personal Aid:

. Assisted over 8 doctors with transportation, medical care needs, monthly laboratory testing, with at least 3 follow-up appointments weekly

. Responsible for upkeep of home, daily living needs, and assistance with medical appointments

AWARDS:

Meritorious Honor Award – Issued by the PRT Governance Advisor for Outstanding Leadership, creativity, and initiative on behalf the PRT team in its efforts to Support economic development and governmental capacity building. 2010.

References:

References available upon request.

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