Biden appoints Arab American as advisor to deputy undersecretary of the US army

Alia Awadallah, an Arab American who has worked in international security, counterterrorism and US policy in the Middle East, has been appointed by US president Joe Biden's administration to work as an advisor to the deputy undersecretary of the army.

The incoming political appointee made the announcement on Twitter Monday, writing: "Some news…I'm thrilled to share that I'm joining the Biden-Harris administration working for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army. My time as a PMF was an incredible adventure, but I'm honored and excited to serve POTUS as a political appointee. #team46"

According to her Twitter profile, Awadallah is a daughter of immigrants who hails from Ohio and she regularly tweets about politics, foreign policy and defence.

Her online profile with the Middle East Institute, where she worked as a non-resident scholar with their cyber program, says she focuses on national security, international security, disinformation, security cooperation, and US policy in the Middle East. 

It also notes that she has served as a research associate on the National Security and International Policy team at the Center for American Progress and as a senior programme coordinator at Vital Voices Global Partnership. 

Her research has focused on the Levant and the Gulf, she has degrees from Johns Hopkins and Kent State and speaks Arabic.

Editor's note: This article has been corrected. Alia Awadallah was appointed as an advisor to the deputy undersecretary of the army, not as deputy undersecretary.