Ghassan Zayadin

● Rendered high-quality translations of a wide array of documents, books, and literary works for diverse clients, ensuring linguistic accuracy and cultural nuance.

● Provided simultaneous interpretation services at numerous local and international conferences, workshops, and seminars on topics including human rights, intellectual property, religious freedom, leadership development, and conflict resolution. Some of these events, organized by prestigious entities like the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the UN, were attended by top-level guests such as Vice President Mike Pence.

● Selected by Embassy leadership as the personal interpreter for three U.S. Ambassadors in Amman Ambassador Stuart Jones, Ambassador Henry Wooster, and Ambassador Alice Wells throughout their full assignments. Most recently, I served as Ambassador Yael Lempert’s personal interpreter during her engagements with senior Jordanian officials. Additionally, I led interpretation efforts for visiting U.S. officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, Acting Assistant Secretary of State Stuart Jones, Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk, and others. This included interpreting for official meetings, on-site tours, and sensitive, high-priority conversations, ensuring clear communication during critical diplomatic interactions.

● Proactively provided timely verbatim and summary translations of analytical reports, legal correspondence, and media interviews on key issues, including security and stability threats, political developments, elections, Islamic groups, and tribal dynamics in Jordan. Utilized Arabic social media platforms and non-traditional news sources to gather and translate relevant information.

● Served as the U.S. Embassy’s principal political analyst on local and regional dynamics (Syria, Iraq, Gaza Strip). Tracked and analyzed cabinet reshuffles, government formations, municipal elections, Islamist movements, local governance, political reforms, opposition activities, and protests. Produced high-level reports and reported on key legislation and debates, meeting with Parliament speakers and members to inform Embassy leadership and State Department Jordan watchers.

● Drafted analytical reports on Jordanian political, security, and socio-economic developments, as well as regional events. Co-drafted cables and provided political insights to the Political Section and Embassy leadership by engaging local contacts, opinion shapers, and experts for real-time analysis.

● Organized and participated in ambassadorial outreach visits to Jordan’s governorates to strengthen U.S.-Jordan relations, providing insights and briefings on key political, socio-economic, and security developments prior to these visits for Embassy leadership.

● Built and maintained a network of key contacts, including civil society leaders, politicians, analysts, and international organizations like the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute. Conducted research using media, academic sources, and contacts to analyze political developments, drafting summaries and cables on major events. Recommended interlocutors for meetings and coordinated with other sections, including USAID’s Democracy and Governance office, to share insights on internal political issues.

● Co-drafted reports on regional developments, including the Gaza war's political, security, and economic impact on Jordan. Covered government and public reactions to Jordanian-Israeli border incidents and parliamentary calls to revoke agreements like the 1994 Wadi Araba Peace Treaty.

● Maintained detailed understanding of U.S, foreign policy and Mission activities. Explained U.S. policy to interlocutors as necessary. Explained key elements of the U.S.-Jordan strategic partnership, focusing on Mission efforts to provide assistance to Jordan, including programs by the Public Affairs Section and USAID.

● Between 2012 and 2017, I worked on the Syria portfolio, reporting on political, security, and military developments using social media tools to produce updates with relevant articles, videos, and tweets from key Syrian political figures and opposition members. I expanded Embassy Amman’s network of Syrian contacts, arranging in-person and virtual meetings with former Syrian officials, activists, opposition members, and community leaders. This allowed the Embassy to better understand the situation in Syria and communicate U.S. policy, including on issues like chemical weapons use, humanitarian aid, and the Geneva II negotiations.

● Between 2010 and 2011, I worked on the Iraq portfolio, engaging a broad network of Iraqi community members in Jordan, including former generals, politicians, businesspeople, tribal chiefs, and religious leaders. I provided insights into Iraqi political and military developments, reconciliation initiatives, and counterterrorism efforts.

● Served as an expert translator and media analyst for the Iraq, Pan-Arab, and Levant teams, demonstrating strong knowledge of media trends, local and regional political contexts, and expertise in qualitative and quantitative open-source research methodologies, along with extensive experience in Arabic-English translation.

● Conducted comprehensive, 24/7 monitoring of Arabic media outlets, including Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya, radio broadcasts, print media, and digital platforms. Curated and refined critical media content, providing nuanced, culturally sensitive translations while ensuring clarity, accuracy, and idiomatic fluency. Provided quick turnaround translations for top US customers of speeches by Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Syria’s Bashar Assad, Hizballah’s Hasan Nasrallah, as well as jihadist material.

● Applied subject-matter expertise to monitor, select, translate, assess sources, enter data, and analyze key topics within my area of responsibility, producing accurate translations and analytic reports in line with OSC style and quality standards. Delivered nuanced translations and sophisticated analyses of political media narratives and public sentiment on evolving current affairs.

● Spearheaded the supervision and training of translators and interpreters, imparting advanced linguistic techniques and fostering the development of critical translation competencies.

● Demonstrated exceptional ability to deliver under stringent time constraints, consistently meeting pressing deadlines and providing timely intelligence reports to senior-level U.S. Government stakeholders.