Samir El-Khadem
Encyclopedia
Samir El-Khadem is the former Commander of the Lebanese Naval Forces
, and an author, historian, and currently the Director of the Institute for East and West Studies in Beirut
, Lebanon. El-Khadem retired from the Lebanese Army on September 25, 2000 reaching the rank of Rear Admiral after serving for 39 years. As of 2007, he is the President of the Numismatic Society for the Arab and Muslim World.
Sunni
family in the sea port city of Tripoli. He finished his secondary education at Lycee of Tripoli in 1962 and was enrolled in the Military Academy as a cadet officer. Two years later, he was selected to embark on a one year training course on board of the Jeanne d’Arc, French Porte Helicoptere. El-Khadem married Nahida Koleilat and they have three children: Rajai, Arige, and Raed.
in 1962 as a young cadet (ranking 2nd place in admission exams), and soon afterwards was selected to complete his training in France where he graduated from the Naval Academy of Brest
in 1964 as a Naval Lieutenant and Engineer.
During his military service, he assumed critical positions, notably, at the time of Lebanese Civil War. He was appointed during the tragic events striking Lebanon in the years 1975-76, as a liaison officer to control and supervise operations of the Lebanese Army liaison office located at the Museum area in Beirut.
In 1977, and during President Elias Sarkis
term, he was appointed at the Lebanese Intelligence Directorate to assume the post of Military Attachés Bureau Chief and also was assigned to head the strategic section at the Intelligence Directorate until 1982.
In 1982, he was delegated by Army Command to follow Advanced Naval Command and Staff Studies in France
for two years. Upon his return to Lebanon, he was appointed Deputy Commander of Naval Forces, Chief of Joint Naval Operations Center, and Instructor at the Command and Staff faculty, in the domains of intelligence, naval support, and supervision of officers’ research theses.
On November 26, 1996 he was appointed as the 10th Commander of Lebanese Naval Forces. El-Khadem left the Navy Commandment on February 26, 1999 and was appointed at the Army Headquarters as Director of the Council of Strategic and Military Studies.
. In June 1988, he received his P.H. D degree in History from the Lebanese University; its major topic revolved around “Commercial, Diplomatic and Human Relations Between Italian Cities and the Eastern Mediterranean Region” which was published in 1989.
. Among them are:
Lebanese navy
The Lebanese Navy is the Navy of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was formed in 1950 and based in Beirut Naval Base, Lebanon’s first naval base. The navy, which currently lacks the proper number of equipment, has a number of approximately 50 vessels of various sizes and roles; however, the navy is...
, and an author, historian, and currently the Director of the Institute for East and West Studies in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon. El-Khadem retired from the Lebanese Army on September 25, 2000 reaching the rank of Rear Admiral after serving for 39 years. As of 2007, he is the President of the Numismatic Society for the Arab and Muslim World.
Background
El-Khadem was born in a small MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Sunni
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
family in the sea port city of Tripoli. He finished his secondary education at Lycee of Tripoli in 1962 and was enrolled in the Military Academy as a cadet officer. Two years later, he was selected to embark on a one year training course on board of the Jeanne d’Arc, French Porte Helicoptere. El-Khadem married Nahida Koleilat and they have three children: Rajai, Arige, and Raed.
Military career
El-Khadem joined the Lebanese Military AcademyLebanese Army Military Academy
The Lebanese Army Military Academy is a part of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The academy is situated at Shikri Ghanem military base, Fayadieh and is attached administratively to the command and administration department . It is one of the oldest military institutions in Lebanon, and was originally...
in 1962 as a young cadet (ranking 2nd place in admission exams), and soon afterwards was selected to complete his training in France where he graduated from the Naval Academy of Brest
École Navale
The École Navale is the French Naval Academy in charge of the education of the officers of the French Navy.The academy was founded in 1830 by the order of King Louis-Philippe...
in 1964 as a Naval Lieutenant and Engineer.
During his military service, he assumed critical positions, notably, at the time of Lebanese Civil War. He was appointed during the tragic events striking Lebanon in the years 1975-76, as a liaison officer to control and supervise operations of the Lebanese Army liaison office located at the Museum area in Beirut.
In 1977, and during President Elias Sarkis
Elias Sarkis
Elias Sarkis was the President of the Lebanese Republic from 1976 to 1982.-Early career:Born in Shabbaniah, Sarkis graduated with a Law degree from Saint Joseph University in 1948. After joining the judicial corps in 1953, he became a judge with the Accounting Department...
term, he was appointed at the Lebanese Intelligence Directorate to assume the post of Military Attachés Bureau Chief and also was assigned to head the strategic section at the Intelligence Directorate until 1982.
In 1982, he was delegated by Army Command to follow Advanced Naval Command and Staff Studies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for two years. Upon his return to Lebanon, he was appointed Deputy Commander of Naval Forces, Chief of Joint Naval Operations Center, and Instructor at the Command and Staff faculty, in the domains of intelligence, naval support, and supervision of officers’ research theses.
On November 26, 1996 he was appointed as the 10th Commander of Lebanese Naval Forces. El-Khadem left the Navy Commandment on February 26, 1999 and was appointed at the Army Headquarters as Director of the Council of Strategic and Military Studies.
Education
In 1980, he earned a Masters degree in history from the Lebanese UniversityLebanese University
The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 17 faculties as of 2006 and serves various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers....
. In June 1988, he received his P.H. D degree in History from the Lebanese University; its major topic revolved around “Commercial, Diplomatic and Human Relations Between Italian Cities and the Eastern Mediterranean Region” which was published in 1989.
Military achievements
El-Khadem throughout his military career has been awarded numerous medals and honors for his service. He received more than 15 citations from the Ministry of Defense and Army Headquarters for courage, duty performance, proficiency, and search and rescueSearch and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
. Among them are:
- Order of Cedars: third degree, second degree, and first degree
- Order of Merit: Great Commodore
- Ordre de Mérite National Français Grade Officier
- Medal of Sacrifice and Devotion (December 31, 1961)
- Medal of the Navy
- Medal of the Dawn of the South
- Medal of Military high performance
- Medal of Liberation
Published works
- Numismatics and Monetary Reform In Early Islam The Dawn of Islamic Numismatics, Beirut, first edition, February 2010 , second edition, August 2010
- The War of Surprises and Deceptions, Beirut 2006 Beirut, first edition 2007, second edition 2008
- The New and Revised Dictionary for Diplomatic Terms, Beirut, 1996
- In the Footsteps of Jesus, The Messiah, In Phoenicia/Lebanon - Written by: Professor M. P. Roncaglia, Foreword by: Rear Admiral Samir El-Khadem, Ph.D.
- While Christopher Columbus Was Heading West, What was Happening in the East?, Beirut, 1992
- Islamic East and The Christian West, Beirut, 1991
- Opinions of the Inhabitants of Beirut Virtuous City, Beirut, 1991
- Firearm and Its Influence on The Orient 15-16 Centuries, Beirut, 1978