George W. Aldaya This is Me

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1. 1. Partnership for Public Service - Profiles In Public Service

   www.ourpublicservice.org/staff - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/27/2006   Last Visited: 4/21/2007

   George W. Aldaya Director, Kansas City Commodity Office Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency
   
   All Americans know that there are countless war heroes currently serving our nation in Iraq. What they may not know is that some of those war heroes completed their military service decades ago. George Aldaya earned three Bronze Stars and four Army Commendation Medals for Valor for his duty in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. While his Army service has long since ended, his service to his nation never ceased, and it unexpectedly put him overseas once again as part of a military operation.
   
   The reconstruction of Iraq is a humanitarian as well as military undertaking and is hence drawing on talent from throughout our government, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). George Aldaya is the Director of USDA's Commodity Office in Kansas City, where he has been repeatedly recognized for exemplary service. And to those who know him, it came as no surprise when his government tapped him to help the Iraqi people rebuild their agriculture infrastructure.
   
   Under a United Nations Security Council Resolution, various UN agencies were charged with operating humanitarian programs on behalf of the Iraqi people, and with Aldaya's assistance, more than $90 million in funding for agriculture will be delivered to the Regional Government and the Ministries of Agriculture for projects in 2004.
   
   During Aldaya's two tours of duty in Iraq, his team reviewed and prioritized projects, developed budgets, and finalized plans to transition agricultural programs and assets to the new governments. Projects included plant protection and production programs, water resource and irrigation projects, and forestry initiatives. Aldaya conducted an assessment of all projects under consideration, and his recommendations were ultimately critical in determining which programs will continue. He was also part of the Oil for Food transition team and worked to preserve worthwhile Food and Agriculture Organization programs.
   
   Aldaya not only contributed to our nation's work in Iraq as an expert consultant, but as an ambassador. Members of the local Agricultural Ministry staff and senior advisors to the Iraq Minister of Agriculture have all been highly complimentary of Aldaya, further confirming the positive impact of his work. And in the long run, these types of positive interactions with Iraqis may prove to be as critical to our ultimate success in Iraq as his other contributions.
   
   The bottom line is that George Aldaya is a true patriot. He has already served his country for more than 36 years, first as a soldier and now at USDA, so there can be no question the he has more than paid his dues for his country. But when his country needed him in Iraq, he answered the call once again. And our nation and the Iraqi people are better off because for it.
   
   Aldaya's contributions were recognized when he was chosen as a finalist for the Service to America Medals in June 2004.

2. 2. www.marshallnews.com

   www.marshallnews.com/story/115 - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/28/2006   Last Visited: 3/25/2007

   They are very pro-American," explained George Aldaya, director of the Kansas City Commodity Office of the USDA's Farm Service Agency, when introducing the three men to the Arth brothers.
   
   "They came here to learn more about American agriculture. They are very much interested in having a free enterprise system," he added. Unlike the Iraq often seen on television, according to Aldaya, the Kurdish regions are stable and the only three governates that are classified as "green" -- meaning they are reasonably safe and secure.
   ...
   "We wanted them to see progressive farms and from what we understand the Arths are very progressive farmers in the area," said Aldaya.
   ...
   Aldaya, who spent six months in the Kurdish region in 2003 and 2004 as a USDA advisor, said the agriculture in their region is similar to the state of Washington. The region is part of ancient Mesopotamia, where wheat was first cultivated, but Sulaymaniyah is only 90 miles from the desert areasmore commonly seen in Iraq. He said 84 percent of their crops are wheat and barley. They also raise some fruits in season, but currently have no processing facilities. While most of the farms are small, the land is owned by the farmers or is on a long-term 75-year lease from the government. He added in some regions there are some "larger" farms of 60 acres. The farmers generally share equipment. "One farmer might own a combine, another farmer may own a drill and a tractor," he said.
   ...
   The schools teach English, according to Aldaya, because the Internet is in English.
   
   On Friday, April 28, the Iraqis, along with Aldaya, will travel to Washington state, meet with Washington State University officials, and spend a week getting an overview of that region. They will then travel to Washington, D.C., on May 8 to 9 before heading back to Iraq.

3. 3. Powder and Bulk Dot Com Newsletter - October 20, 2003

   www.powderandbulk.com/pb_servi - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/20/2003   Last Visited: 7/12/2006

   George Aldaya, director of the Kansas City Commodity office at USDA's Farm Service Agency, will deliver a presentation about U.S. efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq's agriculture sector. Aldaya has worked in Iraq for the past several months. His duties include assessing the validity of agricultural development projects carried out by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and helping transfer the assets and inventories to local Iraqi groups.
   ...
   Aldaya said his mission in Iraq includes working with local officials in Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture, advising them on organization and management, and hiring people to help them when needed.
   
   Aldaya also said it's his job to become familiar with agriculture in Iraq so that he can recommend the type of advisors that would be helpful. Aldaya was named director of the Kansas City Commodity office in 2000. Previously, he was deputy director for the Office of Operations, which is a part of Departmental Administration at USDA in Washington, D.C.