:: Walid Maalouf ::

Biography

Mr. Walid Maalouf served as the Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2003. While at the US Mission in New York, he was the first United States representative to deliver a speech at the United Nations in Arabic.

Prior to this presidential appointment Mr. Maalouf was an international banker in the metropolitan Washington, DC area for fourteen years. He served on a number of civic boards and organized several conventions. He is a member of numerous organizations including the Consular Corps of Washington, DC, and is a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Mr. Maalouf received several awards including the 2006 Distinguished Wall of Fame from his alma mater, USAID's Meritorious Honor Award in 2005, and the Patriarchal Golden Cross of Jerusalem from the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem in 1998. He has been interviewed and written for numerous magazines and newspapers. He also has been recognized for his dedicated commitment to public service and community organizations.

Mr. Maalouf is the founder and former national Vice President of the National Alliance of Lebanese Americans and was the national executive director of the American Lebanese League. He served as Heritage Co-Chair, Middle Eastern of the Catholic Task Force of the Republican National Committee and Co-Chairman of the American Dreamers on behalf of the Lebanese American community in support of President George W. Bush. Mr. Maalouf spearheaded the 2006 Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership trip to Lebanon.

Mr. Maalouf was born in Beirut, Lebanon and graduated from Belmont Abbey-Sacred Heart College, North Carolina. He is currently the Director of Public Diplomacy for Middle Eastern & the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Affairs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He is responsible for enhancing communications between the agency and the broader Middle Eastern community in America and abroad.

		Outstanding Leadership & Achievement Award 03/01/2008 The Lebanese American Association (LAA) bestowed on Mr. Walid Maalouf its Outstanding Leadership & Achievement Award at their 17th Annual Gala Dinner in San Francisco, California. (Mr. Maalouf receiving the award from LAA President Tom Makdisi)

		Platinum Emigrante Award 04/28/2007 The World Lebanese Cultural Union bestowed on Mr. Walid Maalouf its second highest Platinum Emigrante Award in Montreal at the US-Canada regional meeting in recognition of the major and central role he played at the United Nations as the Alternate Representative of the US to the 58th General Assembly, appointed by president George W. Bush, and his important intervention in support of implementing UNSCR 1559 to help liberate Lebanon from the Syrian occupation. (Mr. Maalouf receiving the award from the WLCU President Mr. Anis Garabet)

		Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame 04/01/ 2006 Belmont Abbey and Sacred Heart National Alumni Board inducted Walid Maalouf into the Distinguished Wall of Fame administered by the President and the Abbot of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina. (With Abbot Placid Solari, Dr. William K. Thierfelder, President of Belmont Abbey and Michael P. McGinnis, President of the Alumni Board)

		Meritorious Honor Award 11/17/2005 Walid Maalouf was a recipient of the USAID 2005 Meritorious Honor Award which he received at the annual Awards Ceremony, A Celebration of Excellence in Development, in recognition for substantial and direct contribution to USAID's public outreach to the diplomatic community, Middle Eastern and Arab American communities, as well as other key organizations with a substantive interest in the Agency's foreign assistance activities. (With the former Administrator of USAID the Honorable Andrew Natsios)

Achievement & Appreciation Award
11/21/2004

Mr. Maalouf received the Achievement & Appreciation Award from the American Lebanese Coordination Council at their annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio to promote peace, democracy and to support the United Nations resolution 1559 aimed at liberating Lebanon from the Syrian occupation.

(With the leadership of ALCC Mr. Maroun, Mr. Hage and Mr. Faddoul)

Trail Blazer Award
11/20/2004

In Warren, Michigan Walid Maalouf received from the Lebanese-American Club of Michigan the Trail Blazer Award in recognition of his achievement in the public service arena including his current position at USAID as well as his previous position as the Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the general assembly of the United Nations in 2003.

(With the leadership of LACOM Mr. Tony Malouf and Mr. Mourani)

Swearing Ceremony
09/15/2003

In New York, NY Walid Maalouf's oath of office at the United States Mission to the United Nations as the Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Fifty-Eighth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations administered by the United States Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council.

(With Ambassador Sichan Siv and Charlotte Mantzaris)

Sovereign Military Order of Malta
09/23/2000

In Washington, D.C. Walid Maalouf's investiture into the Sovereign Military Order of Malta at Saint Matthew's Cathedral administered by the Archbishop of Washington.

(With His Eminence the late James Cardinal Hickey Archbishop of Washington)

Patriarchal Golden Cross of Jerusalem
08/09/1998

In Beiteddine, Lebanon Walid Maalouf received the Patriarchal Golden Cross of Jerusalem from the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem at the Palace of Mir Amine.

(With Archbishop George Kwaiter of the Diocese of Saida & Deir-El-Kamar, His Beatitude the late Patriarch Maximos V Hakim and Walid's uncle the late Chafic Maalouf)