Refugees affairs specialist
Resume:
Sher Ahmad
**** ********** ***, ******* ** *****
*************@*****.***
Security Clearance: TS/SCI w/CI poly
Education
B.A., Agronomy, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan, 1973 Experience Summary
A dynamic and energetic Afghan-American whose Afghan government and social connections coupled with his educational and professional experiences in both the U.S. and Afghanistan make him the ideal candidate to advise U.S. and Coalition military Commanders in Afghanistan. Mr. Ahmad is an expert on the Afghan population, Afghan politics, and the Afghan economy. Job History
Linguist and Cultural Advisor – ATLAS, LLC: FT. McCoy Wisconsin September 2021- February2022
Supported the US Army task force in resettlement of newly Arrived Afghan Refugees. Linguist and Cultural Advisor – ATLAS, LLC: AFGHANISTAN APRIL 2017- December 2018
Created gists, transcriptions and translations of intercepted insurgent communications. Linguist and Cultural Advisor - CWU, INC: GUANTANAMO BAY CUBA AUGUST 2013-NOVEMBER 2015
Created gists, transcriptions and translations of intercepted insurgent communications. Interacted with detainees in a translator role.
Cultural Advisor, 2nd and 1st Marine Division (Forward), Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CAOCL)—Professional Solutions LLC: Nov 2010 – August 2012. He provided expert Afghan culture and language mentoring, translation, and interpreter support to the Commander and staff of the 2d Marine Division in Afghanistan. Mr. Ahmad provided sincere and unvarnished cultural information and insight prior to, during, and after engagements between the Commander and his staff and local formal and informal Afghan political, military, and civilian leadership. Mr. Ahmad ensured the Commander had an unbiased view of the cultural situation and provided a candid assessment of what steps should be taken to achieve the desired end state. With over 45 years of experience in Afghanistan including Helmand Province, Mr. Ahmad brought a laser beam focus to the issues that needed immediate attention and resolution.
Special Advisor to Attorney General of Afghanistan for Tribal and Nomadic Disputes--H&K Hill
&Knowlton: 2009-2010. Political and cultural advisor to the Attorney General on Afghan tribes, including the nomads and their pastures routs for the last two centuries. Pre Deployment Trainer-- IDS, International: 2009-2010. Taught, mentored, coached groups of military officers preparing for Provisional Reconstruction Teams (PRT) missions in Afghanistan to include cross cultural relations between U.S. and Afghan officials and villagers. Project Leader, International Coalition: 2007–2009. Developed a staff and coordinated communications and dialogues for peace in southern Afghanistan with tribal leaders, village chiefs, and religious leaders to further counter narcotics and counter insurgency campaigns; and interfaced with different agencies.
Senior Advisor to Afghan Cabinet Minister of Counter Narcotics and to 13 Provincial Governors of Afghanistan-- Hill & Knowlton: 2006–2007. Advised Ministers how to counter poppy production, help farmers substitute poppies with legal crops that provide more profit for farmers; how to develop trust
(hearts and minds) of villagers; how to work with nomads, tribal leaders, religious leaders in different parts of Afghanistan. Senior Advisor to 13 Afghan Governors providing capacity building consultation. Through Hill and Knowlton served as senior consultant to General Azimi--spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan-- advising him regarding counter IED strategy and programs. Lincoln Group: 2005–2006. Served as chief consultant for a team sent to the Kashmir area of Pakistan after October 9th, 2005 earthquake to evaluate the damage and collaborate with the spokesperson for the Pakistan Military of Defense, General Shukat Sultan. This included leading a team to remote areas of Kashmir, e.g., Bala-kot, Montesara, Muzeffer-abad. Also, participated in donor conference seeking $5 billion in aid for the Pakistan earthquake victims. Senior Cultural Advisor for Combined Forces Command--Titan Security Solutions: 2004–2005. Job description upon request
Advisor to Minister of Ministry of Frontier and Tribal Affairs: 2003–2004. Identified who has influence in tribes and nomadic tribes on both sides of Afghanistan/Pakistan/Iranian borders. Founder and Executive Director-- International Refugee Services: 1988–Present. Organized and supervised immigrant resettlement: language training, job placement, U.S. citizenship training, counseling, social services, health care, referrals, translation into various languages; supervised up to 400 volunteerism interns and staff, provided public relations with governmental bodies, churches, mosques, community based organizations; represented refugee issues on TV and cultural awareness programs; conducted 413 presentations across the U.S, Europe, Indian subcontinent on various topics including cross- cultural awareness in the workplace, schools hospitals; family values, youth awareness, interreligious dialogue; and geopolitical issues between Afghanistan and the former Soviet Union. Volunteer & Coordinator—VISTA: 1989- 1994. Established adult literacy centers throughout state of California; established English as a Second Language programs throughout California for immigrants; established cultural awareness programs in California, Arizona, Virginia, and New Mexico. President and Operations Director--Bicycles for Afghan Amputees: 1992 – 1998. Secured program funding; planned, organized, and implemented training programs, adult literacy, programs in Pakistan and Afghanistan, medical centers- outpatient clinics, physical therapy, training of nurses; prepared amputee bicyclists who participated in the international sports competitions in Berlin, Germany; London, England; Toronto, Canada; Barcelona, Spain; Atlanta, Georgia; and San Francisco, California. Warehouse Supervisor-- Crawford Company: 1985 – 1986. Supervised staff that received, stocked, and distributed $11 million of construction materials. Liaison-- I.C.M.C/ JVA, US Embassy: 1985-1985. Advised U.S. Embassy staff on geopolitics of Afghanistan; assisted in screening the refugees immigrating to the U.S.; provided translation and interpretation in various languages.
Assistant Coordinator-- Inter Aid Committee: 1981-1985. Assisted resettlement of $1.5 million Afghan refugees in camps providing them food, shelter, health care, education, vocational training; taught western doctors, nurses, administrators and politicians about local languages and cultures; wrote grants for operation of programs; supervised a large number of national and international staff employees; provided translation in various languages.
Medical Administrator, Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Center; Medical Stock Officer-- C.A.R.E: 1976- 1980. Directed national and international employees in operation of the Rehabilitation Center; taught local language and culture to western doctors, nurses, and staff; provided translations for western doctors and nurses; ordered, received from U.S. and distributed to hospitals more than $1 million of medicines, hospital supplies, equipment, books, and inventory; taught Afghan culture and religious sensitivity to western doctors, nurses, and staff.
Assistant Regional Manager-- Afghan Fertilizer Company: 1973 – 1976. Managed and distributed thousands of tons of chemical fertilizers from the U.S., Japan and Saudi Arabia; taught cultural awareness to American advisors for Afghan officials and local farmers; provided translation and interpretation.
Special Interpreter/Translator for former King of Afghanistan Mohamad Zahir Shah: 1970- 1973. Provided translations for private meetings with foreign dignitaries and ambassadors. Translator/Interpreter/Field Assistant for USAID; Bilingual Trainer, U.S. Peace Corps: 1966 to 1971. Taught local languages to American advisors and orientations on cross cultural and religious sensitivity; translated official documents from English into Persian; taught local languages, culture religious sensitivity to Peace Corps workers.
Significant Training
Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Staff Training Program (MSTP) Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX) Jan 2011
Regimental Combat Team - 8 Exercise STRONG RESOLVE: Command and Control training Dec 2010 Computer Application/Programming Expertise
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) familiarity, UIS, Oneroof Languages
English, fluent; Pashto, fluent; Persian Farsi, fluent; Afghan Dari, fluent; Urdu, listen and read; Arabic, read and write
Employment History
Company Position Years
Atlas, LLC Linguist 2017-Present
CWU, Inc Linguist 2013-2015
7 Global LLC Vice President 2009-2018
Professional Solutions Cultural Advisor 2010-2012
IDS International Pre Deployment Trainer 2009-2010 International Coalition Project Leader 2007-2009
Hill & Knowlton Senior Adviser, Afghanistan 2006-2007 Lincoln Group Consultant 2005-2006
Titan Security Solutions Senior Cultural Advisor 2004-2005 International Refugee Services Founder & Executive Director 1988-Present Bicycles of Afghan Amputees President & Operations Director 1992 -1998 VISTA Volunteer Coordinator 1989-1994
I.C.M.C./JVA Liaison 1985-1985
Inter Aid Committee Assistant Coordinator 1983-1985 CARE-MEDICO Medical Administrator/ Medical stock officer 1976-1980 Afghan Fertilizer Company Asst. Regional Manager 1973-1976 King of Afghanistan Special Interpreter 1970- 1973 USAID Field Assistant/Translator/ Interpreter 1966-1971
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