Hussain Kazimi

Senior Specialist, International Affairs

I spent much of my early adult years overseas with the U.S. military, where I worked and lived on military bases for ten years. Working alongside senior military leaders and Department of State representatives, I provided mission-critical support to military operations, diplomatic missions, and USAID projects. This experience sparked a strong interest in international relations and development. Facilitating cross-cultural communication under high-stakes conditions and navigating complex international environments to strengthen diplomatic relationships and achieve mission objectives allowed me to develop extensive professional and personal experience. I especially valued accompanying senior military leaders during Key Leader Engagements and contributing to operations planning, cross-agency communication, and coordination. Serving alongside military personnel was both rewarding and highly challenging, but I learned a great deal by helping to identify and mitigate risks, build trust and partnerships, promote peace-building efforts, and make many great friends. With experience in international program support, interagency coordination, and cross-cultural communication, I have always enjoyed working both independently and collaboratively with government and international agencies. Throughout my 20-plus years of experience in international relations and development, one principle has consistently stood out: understanding local culture is just as important as speaking the language. Food, culture, acceptance, and mutual respect create the foundation for meaningful dialogue, trust-building, and productivity. Outside of work, I enjoy playing volleyball, gardening, and traveling.