Up Close and Personal with an FBI Contract Linguist

Considered a Career as an FBI Contract Linguist?
Here's What It's Like: Up Close and Personal

11/12/04

Imad came to the FBI after working in private industry as an engineer in the manufacturing sector. In the wake of the 9/11/01 attacks, though, he thought about how he might use his language skills in Kurdish and Arabic to protect Americans and people around the world against crime and acts of terrorism. Then he heard about the FBI's contract linguist program...and the rest is history. He began work from his home ten months ago.

Q: Imad, can you describe a typical working day?
Imad: Each day is different, and filled with expectation. I start my day knowing that Today Could Be the Day. In other words, I might uncover a specific piece of intelligence that could ultimately prevent an attack and make this country, and other countries around the world, safer. Always I begin by reviewing material that is sent to me from Special Agents who are working on cases vital to the security of this country. I provide a summary or verbatim translation. Also, we linguists are trained to identify coded communications and messages in the materials--and trained to add our own notes that can include background and cultural interpretations.

Q: Can you describe your most exciting experience to date?
Imad: It is a fact that providing language and cultural interpretations to three special agents every day is very exciting! But in one particular case, I provided analysis that led to a breakthrough and determined the future shape that case would take. Another time I identified intelligence that enabled several countries to take measures to protect their citizens from possible terror acts.

Q: Any advice to prospective FBI recruits?
Imad: I would say to them, don't think for a minute that you cannot help in critically important ways. As a minority who has been working all my life in the engineering field, I was reluctant to come forward. But now that I am here working for the FBI as a contractor, I am very glad I made the decision. I am treated as a full member of this organization, and I get great satisfaction knowing I am part of a team that is working to protect this country from future threats. I encourage people of different backgrounds--ethnic or professional--to become part of the FBI's mission.