By Courtesy of United States Agency for International Development
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Washington, D.C. - General William E. Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), presents Carl Abdou Rahmaan the Meritorious Civilian Service Award November 4, 2009, at United States Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters in Washington. Rahmaan, a 28-year USAID veteran, received the award for his work as the first senior development advisor to U.S. Africa Command. (Photo courtesy of USAID)

Washington, D.C., 

Nov 6, 2009 — Carl Abdou Rahmaan, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), received the second highest civilian service award given by the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff November 4, 2009 at USAID headquarters in Washington.

The Meritorious Civilian Service Award was presented to Rahmaan for his work as the first senior development advisor to the commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2008 and 2009. The award recognizes an established pattern of excellence in supervisory or nonsupervisory duties, in setting a record of achievement and inspiring others to improve the quantity and quality of their work.

“Carl ‘USAID-ized’ Africa Command to the highest degree possible,” said General William E. “Kip” Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command, who served as Rahmaan’s supervisor and presented the award. “His teaching, coaching and mentoring have settled in to this day and (his mark) remains in place.”

In his remarks at the award ceremony, Ward praised Rahmaan’s contributions and said the first senior development advisor to the command left a lasting impression.

Prior to joining U.S. Africa Command in 2007, Rahmaan, a member of the career foreign service, was the deputy mission director for USAID in Afghanistan. He has also served as director of USAID Office of Regional and Country Support, Bureau of Global Health, where he coordinated and supported health and family planning programs at 71 USAID field missions. His other assignments at USAID included serving as a regional representative in south central Iraq, as well as posts in Haiti, Egypt, Niger, Morocco, Lebanon and Nepal.

After 28 years at USAID, Rahmaan now serves as a senior country affairs officer for the Afghan-Pakistan Task Force.