Mr. T | Lima Charlie Contributor
“It’s not about my story. It’s about all those Soldiers who worked with me and changed my life from being an Iraqi to an American … We trusted each other. We learned that trust is not given outright—it’s something you must build.”
Born in Baghdad just before the Iran-Iraq War, “Mr. T” began serving the U.S. Army as an interpreter in 2003. Within a remarkably short three-month span, he was promoted from Patrolling Interpreter to Company Command Interpreter. He then rose to Battalion Interpreter Commander, and Brigade Level Interpreter, taking the reigns on intelligence during interrogations. Not stopping there, “T” would eventually work for General Martin E. Dempsey, the Commander of the Multinational Security Transition Command in IRAQ (MNSTC-I). He served as interpreter with the Gen. (Staff Judge Advocate) Office, providing advice on terrorism-related issues and groups in Iraq. During his service he also assisted the International Red Cross and Red Crescent. Within this time, he worked with strategic level efforts in the counter terrorism field, by serving as supervisor for the Iraqi Advisory Task Force (IQATF).
Mr. T would eventually emigrate to America in 2009 serving with the NYPD Counterterrorism Unit.
As a proud American, Mr. T fondly remembers his first windows into American culture and life. Molded by childhood memories of John Wayne, Trans Hill, Bud Spencer and American television. Fluent in Arab, Kurdish, and English, Mr. T brings to Lima Charlie a special acumen for communication and a personal accountability to build relationships by earning the trust, integrity, and respect of his Team Members and audience.