Waleed A. Samkari
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General Waleed Ahmad Samkari (العميد وليد أحمد السمكري), Director of the Royal Maintenance Corps (سلاح الصيانة الملكي) of the Jordanian Armed Forces
responsible for supporting continuous operations for the military. During his command, his unit underwent a change in adopting modern military organization. Samkari helped with getting the ZSU-23-4
"Shilka" and the 9K33 Osa
from Russia
and the former Soviet Union. He influenced improving military collaboration between Jordan
and Turkey
. He had been educated in Turkey and was fluent in the language.
in 1942. He was educated there and finished high school when he was 16. He then enrolled in college in Turkey in 1959.
(1959–1965) where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering
. He then worked on an irrigation project north of Jordan where he witnessed an aerial battle between Israeli and Syrian fighter jets in the 6 day war in 1967. He resolved at that time to one day join the military. He moved to work in Kuwait
for a few years.
After he joined the army in 1972, the military sent Samkari for several educational courses in England
and the United States
including Fort Lee (Virginia) in 1988, where he received his second masters degree from the Florida Institute of Technology
. He had several courses in Fort Lee. and he was engaged in military cooperation with the United States.
After Major General Abdilwahab Kharabsheh retired as maintenance corps commander, King Hussein promoted Samkari to Brigadier General
and commander of the corps in 1992. Samkari's role as director came at a sensitive time. After the Gulf War, the face of the middle east had changed. Samkari reused parts and reassembled them, due to the shortage of spare parts. That changed by the time of the start of the peace talks between Jordan
and Israel
. By that time Jordan had started an era of sophisticated military force.
"Shilka" and the 9K33 Osa
missiles and targeting radar. He also was sent to the United Kingdom
to gain support for various British built weaponry in Jordan.
Samkari was also sent to the United States several times in order to take courses to improve the Jordanian military in Fort Lee (Virginia).
Jordanian Armed Forces
The Jordanian Armed Forces , also referred to as The Arab Army , with all of it branches, is under direct control of the King of Jordan...
responsible for supporting continuous operations for the military. During his command, his unit underwent a change in adopting modern military organization. Samkari helped with getting the ZSU-23-4
ZSU-23-4
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armored, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system . ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka , meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount". The "23" signifies the bore diameter in millimeters. The "4" signifies the number of gun barrels. It...
"Shilka" and the 9K33 Osa
9K33 Osa
The 9K33 OSA is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko.-Description:...
from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the former Soviet Union. He influenced improving military collaboration between Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He had been educated in Turkey and was fluent in the language.
Early life
Samkari was born in IrbidIrbid
Irbid , known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of...
in 1942. He was educated there and finished high school when he was 16. He then enrolled in college in Turkey in 1959.
Education
Samkari attended Istanbul Technical UniversityIstanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University is an international technical university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the world's third oldest technical university dedicated to engineering sciences as well as social sciences recently, and is one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey...
(1959–1965) where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. He then worked on an irrigation project north of Jordan where he witnessed an aerial battle between Israeli and Syrian fighter jets in the 6 day war in 1967. He resolved at that time to one day join the military. He moved to work in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
for a few years.
After he joined the army in 1972, the military sent Samkari for several educational courses in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
including Fort Lee (Virginia) in 1988, where he received his second masters degree from the Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is an independent private technical research university located in Melbourne, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, the institute has been known by its present name since 1966. Florida Tech's curriculum...
. He had several courses in Fort Lee. and he was engaged in military cooperation with the United States.
Military career
Samkari entered the service in 1972 He was He started working in the Maintenance Corps warehouses that were responsible for supplying the military with spare parts. He was sent to the United States in order to get training in leadership and management.After Major General Abdilwahab Kharabsheh retired as maintenance corps commander, King Hussein promoted Samkari to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and commander of the corps in 1992. Samkari's role as director came at a sensitive time. After the Gulf War, the face of the middle east had changed. Samkari reused parts and reassembled them, due to the shortage of spare parts. That changed by the time of the start of the peace talks between Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. By that time Jordan had started an era of sophisticated military force.
Role in military improvement
General Samkari was a member of the envoy to the Soviet Union which acquired Russian made anti aircraft weaponry, the ZSU-23-4ZSU-23-4
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armored, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system . ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka , meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount". The "23" signifies the bore diameter in millimeters. The "4" signifies the number of gun barrels. It...
"Shilka" and the 9K33 Osa
9K33 Osa
The 9K33 OSA is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko.-Description:...
missiles and targeting radar. He also was sent to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to gain support for various British built weaponry in Jordan.
Samkari was also sent to the United States several times in order to take courses to improve the Jordanian military in Fort Lee (Virginia).