AWC Appoints Senior Advisor for Afghan Outreach and Deputy Research Director
January 11, 2024
The bipartisan leadership of the Afghanistan War Commission, Co-Chairs Shamila N. Chaudhary and Dr. Colin F. Jackson, today announced two key appointments: Ms. Mariam Jalalzada as Senior Advisor for Afghan Outreach and Ms. Pamela G. Faber Shearman as Deputy Research Director.
Ms. Jalalzada has over sixteen years of experience in Afghanistan's reconstruction landscape, specializing in private sector development, civil society promotion, and citizen empowerment. On the Commission, she will employ her extensive research and field expertise to ensure a comprehensive assessment, taking into account various perspectives, including those of Afghan stakeholders. In her most recent role as Senior Research Analyst at the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, a U.S. government oversight agency, Ms. Jalalzada contributed to the planning, coordination, and development of lessons learned reports, offering invaluable insights into the complex dynamics of post-conflict development.
After graduation from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where Ms. Jalalzada earned her Masters in international development, she traveled to Kabul, her hometown, where she worked with numerous international organizations on projects such as community peacebuilding and business entrepreneurship. She has conducted in-depth research covering a wide range of topics, including the effectiveness of programs supporting economic and political participation of communities in the midst of violent conflict. She has observed how communities struggle to sustain livelihoods and repair relationships when shattered by war.
Ms. Shearman joins the Commission from the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, where she served as a Senior Research Scientist and coordinator of CNA's Africa Security portfolio. As an experienced research leader, policy analyst, and national security advisor, she has conducted research projects on issues including counterterrorism, security force assistance, women, peace and security, and civilian harm in conflict mitigation.
Ms. Shearman has designed, directed, and authored numerous research reports for senior government officials within the Department of Defense, State Department, and Intelligence Community. She has also conducted extensive fieldwork on a range of security issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Kenya, Guinea, Benin, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, and Chad, among others countries.
Ms. Shearman holds an M.Phil. in International Development from St. Catherine's College, University of Oxford, an MSc in International Relations from The London School of Economics, a BA in Political Science from Columbia University, and a BA in History from List College, The Jewish Theological Seminary. She lives in Northern Virginia with her family.
“With her close professional and personal ties to the Afghan community, and extensive experience with reconstruction efforts in country, Ms. Jalalzada is an ideal liaison for ensuring the Commission captures the voices and views of many of those most impacted by the war,” said Co-Chairs Chaudhary and Jackson. “Ms. Shearman further strengthens the Commission’s professional research team with her deep experience and hands-on field work managing rigorous and robust programs for clients across the U.S. national security establishment. We are excited to have both join our growing team.”
Background
In FY 2022, a bipartisan group of members of the U.S. Congress from majority and minority leadership and various committees (Foreign Affairs; Intelligence; Armed Services) appointed the following fifteen commissioners to the Commission:
Dr. Anand Gopal
Luke Hartig
Dr. Seth Jones
Laurel Miller
LTC (ret.) Chris Molino
Gov. Bob Taft
Dr. Andrew Wilder
Shamila N. Chaudhary, Co-Chair
Dr. Colin F. Jackson, Co-Chair
Michael Allen
LTG (ret.) Robert Ashley
Jeremy Bash
Amb. Ryan Crocker
Jeffrey Dressler
Daniel Fata
Click here to read biographies of the Commissioners.
Click here to read about key staff hires on the Commission.
Click here to read the full text of Sec. 1094 of the FY22 NDAA establishing the Commission.
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