Said T. Jawad

Said T. Jawad is the Ambassador of Afghanistan to the Russian Federation and former Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Kingdom and Ireland. He has previously served as Chief of Staff to the President of Afghanistan (2001 to 2003), Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia and Argentina (2003-2010), the Chief Executive Officer of Capitalize LLC, a global strategic advisory firm headquartered in Washington, DC (2010-2017), the Chairman of the Foundation for Afghanistan (2004-2014); and as a Global Political Strategist and Senior Counselor at APCO Worldwide (2010-2017).

As Ambassador, he re-established the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC and developed it into one of the most responsive and successful missions in Washington. He managed Afghanistan’s diplomacy at a critical time with its key strategic partner through extensive interaction with the White House, State Department, Pentagon, U.S. Congress, U.S. media and academia; and initiated Afghanistan’s diplomatic relations with Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico.

As Corporate CEO of Capitalize, he led a dynamic team of international business experts advising foreign governments, international companies, and investors on politics, defense, security, market entry, commercial opportunities, and development strategies in Central Asia and the Gulf regions, including Afghanistan.

As Chief of Staff of the President of Afghanistan and Press Secretary, he was a member of the cabinet and the National Security Council contributing to rebuilding the country’s national defense, security and civil institutions, notably the Ministry of Defense, formulating strategies and implementing structural reforms and organizing national councils and Jirgas. He acted as the President’s Principal Liaison with the Constitutional Commission in 2002.

Ambassador Jawad’s op-eds and interviews have appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, the International Herald Tribune, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CNN’s “The Situation Room” and BBC. He has lectured at many academic intuitions in the United States, Asia, and Europe, and has been a frequent speaker at think tanks and policy centers worldwide.

He has received numerous national and international decorations and and awards, including the Medal of Sustained Service by the Constitutional Loya Jirga, Kabul, 2003; Special Award for Improving the Quality of Life, Washington, DC, 2007; and Award of Merit for Rebuilding a Nation, American Society of Civil Engineers, Washington, D.C., 2004. He speaks French and German and plays polo.