Mission Essential Conversations: From the Field with Former Linguist, Joe L.
HERNDON, Virginia, September 3, 2020 – On Wednesday, September 2, Mission Essential premiered an in-depth conversation with former linguist Joe L. Joe, a Pakistani American, is fluent in Pashto, Urdu, and Hindi.
Throughout the broadcast, Joe speaks passionately about his three years embedded with US troops and intelligence officials in Afghanistan, serving as a Mission Essential employee, translator, and political advisor. He served as a liaison between the US and Afghan governments and conducted interrogations and intelligence gathering of interned Taliban and al-Qaeda enemy combatants.
“I could see the impact we were having in Afghanistan,” said Joe. “You’re not reading about this stuff from thousands of miles away, you’re immersed in the environment. You’re involved in the work. You’re having a direct impact on a mission.”
Following his dynamic life and career, Joe details many of experiences from growing up in the Bronx to interpreting as a Mission Essential employee alongside Green Berets, then to his commission as a Lieutenant in the United States Army.
“You’re bringing strangers from different corners of the world together for a mission. Lives are on the line and it is your responsibility to cultivate that relationship as a linguist,” said Joe.
This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.
ABOUT MISSION ESSENTIAL
Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.