Iraq’s Fareed Yasseen given 2021 ‘Ambassador of the Year’ award. December 2021

Congratulations Ambassador Yasseen.

BEMA International

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December 28, 2021   Iraq’s Fareed Yasseen given 2021 ‘Ambassador of the Year’ award   The National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) recognized Iraq’s Fareed Yasseen as its 2021 “Ambassador of the Year” during a Dec. 14 awards ceremony and luncheon at Washington’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The event, which attracted 150 people, including 20 current and former ambassadors. “Look around you,” Yasseen told his audience. “You will find not only members of the business community, but also elected officials, current and former government officials, diplomats, academics, researchers, human rights activists, journalists, and friends, including a couple of my Baghdad College classmates. I don’t blush, and I am not easily humbled, but this turnout is truly humbling.” Yasseen noted that three of his colleagues have received NUSACC’s “Ambassador of the Year” award in past years: Algeria’s Madjid Bouguerra, Jordan’s Dina Kawar and Tunisia’s Faisal Gouia. “The United States and the Republic of Iraq have traveled a long road together over the years,” said David Hamod, NUSACC’s president & CEO, in praising Yasseen. “He has skillfully and strategically built partnerships between Iraq and America that will serve our respective countries for decades to come.” Read More »

CENSA’s newest board member, Mr. Kevin Ryan. Kevin is a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer. December 2021

 

CENSA Members, It is my great pleasure to introduce to you CENSA’s newest board member, Mr. Kevin Ryan. Kevin is a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, who has held senior intelligence positions at the company, battalion, brigade, and division levels. Kevin has served in both conventional and special operations units -- deploying multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. Most recently he served as a Defense Congressional Fellow in the US Senate, and as the Intelligence Portfolio manager for the Army's Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison. Kevin joins the board after being a CENSA member for the last three years, having led several CENSA working groups - including one that published a CENSA paper on improving artificial intelligence expertise in the national security workforce. Kevin will be assuming the responsibilities of Director of Finance for CENSA. Kevin replaces Board Member Christopher McGuire, who is taking a temporary leave of absence while serving in a new position in the U.S. government. We thank Chris for his contributions and leadership on the board for the last three years and wish him the best of luck in his new responsibilites.  Finally, I’d like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and happy new year - we look forward to seeing you all at a CENSA event (hopefully in person) in 2022. Respectfully, William J. Denn Chairman of the Board of Directors Council for Emerging National Security Affairs