Ambassador Sam Zakhem

2530 South Gray Court
Lakewood, Colorado 80227

Family:

Wife: Merilynn Gillis Zakhem – Artist and Mother
Children: John – Attorney, Jackson Kelly PLLC,
Charles – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army
James – Marketing Consultant

Education:

Honorary Doctor of Philosophy; American University of Lebanon, 2010
Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science; University of Colorado, 1970
Post-Graduate Studies in Economics; Wayne State University, 1963
MBA; University of Detroit, 1960
BA Economics; American University of Cairo, Egypt, 1957
Graduate Fellow; National Center for Constitutional Studies, Washington, D.C.
Graduate Fellow; Freeman Institute, Salt Lake City, UT
Advisory Board; Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, MA

Experience:

US Government:

American Ambassador to Bahrain, 1986-89
White House Advisor, Peace Corps, 1985-86
American Bicentennial Ethnic Committee, 1976
Board of Directors; Small Business Administration, State of Colorado, 1973
Member; US Small Business Administration, 1972
Honorary Chaplain; United States Navy

Business:

Zakhem International, LLC, 1990 – Present
Vice-President for Middle East Operations; MedLink International, Inc. Denver, CO, 1995-01
Vice- President for Economic Affairs; Rocky Mountain Orthodontics Co., Denver, CO, 1976-86
Research Analyst; Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1973-74
Director; Center for International Students, University of Denver, 1972
Cost Analyst; Ford Motor Co., Detroit, MI, 1962-64

Legislative:

Colorado State Senate – One Term, 1978-82
Chairman; Business Affairs and Labor Committee
Vice-Chairman; Finance Committee
Member; Health, Environment, Institutions and Appropriations Committees
Colorado State House of Representatives – Two Terms, 1974-78
Chairman; House Finance Committee
Member; State Affairs, Local Government Committees

Teaching:

Teaching Assistant in Economics, 1962-63
Wayne State University
Economics, Business, Foreign Relations and Political Science, 1968-91
University of Colorado
University of Denver
Loretto Heights College
Metropolitan State College

Selected Honors and Awards:

American Legion – Americanism Award
Eagle Forum – God Family and Country Award
Freedom’s Foundation – George Washington Medal of Honor
Disabled American Veterans – Citizen of the Year Award
Chairman, Colorado Cares about POW/MIA
Denver Sertoma – Citizen of the Year Award
Amway Corporation – Free Enterprise Award
Peace Through Strength Award, American Security Council Foundation
Veterans of Foreign Wars – Colorado Man of the Year Award
US Marine Corps – Award for Patriotism and Loyalty
Boy Scouts of America – Community Service Award
University of Colorado – Leadership Award
H. Norman Schwarzkopf – Shield for Outstanding Support of American Forces in the Gulf
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Chaplain, Associated Veterans of the State of Colorado
2002 Distinguished Alumni Award, American University of Cairo
Chairman, Board of Advisors, US- India Chamber of Commerce, 2005-present
The Golden Cedar Award, American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, 2010
Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 2010
Global Citizenship Award, People to People, Inc., 2010

Comments on Ambassador Zakhem’s Performance:

Senator Jesse Helms heralded Ambassador Zakhem as follows: “You have the courage of your convictions and the moral and spiritual principles to guide you in rendering distinguished service to our country. You stood up to America’s enemies in your courageous service as U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain. Not once have you compromised your willingness to fight to preserve the freedoms of the American people.”

Commenting on Ambassador Zakhem’s performance in Bahrain, Secretary of State Schultz said: “We do not know the caliber of Ambassadors we appoint to any country until there is a crisis. In a crisis, you represented America with dignity and honor. We are proud of what you have done.”

Assistant Secretary of State, for Near East Affairs, Richard Murphy characterized Ambassador Zakhem’s achievements as Ambassador to Bahrain in the substantive fields as “virtuoso.”

Senator Edward Kennedy wrote in January, 1988: “Our country is fortunate to have you in this important position at this important time.”

After finishing a visit to the Persian Gulf and Joint Task Force Middle East, Congressman Michael Oxley of Ohio wrote: “Sam, you are without a doubt a shining example of how a United States Ambassador should act and represent our country in a strategic part of the world. We are very fortunate to have you on our side.”

Writing after a trip to Bahrain, Congressman William Dickinson of Alabama said, “Your dedication and tireless effort on behalf of US-Bahraini relations are evident and has clearly been an important asset during the past year of increased US presence in the Gulf.”

General A.M. Gray, Commandant of the Marine Corps, after a visit to Bahrain, wrote, “Our nation is fortunate to have a statesman of your dedication and sensitivity representing us in an area which is so vital to US interests.”

General George Crist, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf’s predecessor as Commander-in-Chief, Central Command, noted: “You were in the midst of the fray at every moment. It is only with your perseverance, political skill, and close personal relations with the government that success was achieved.”

Admiral Phil Duffy of the US Navy Command, in charge of the naval facilities in the Gulf, labeled Ambassador Zakhem as a “pillar of strength and determination” and called him “America’s most patriotic representative in the Arabian Gulf Region.”

After a visit to Bahrain, in 1987, US Senator Dennis DeConcini, in a letter to the State Department, wrote, “Everyone in the Government I spoke with, attributed America’s great relations with Bahrain to one man, Ambassador Sam Zakhem.”

Professor Albert Blaustein of Rutgers University, in a letter to the State Department, wrote, “I have never seen such devotion and I have never seen a US Ambassador so loved by the host country . . . Sam can get America almost anything he asks for.”