Faculty Profile - Xhavit Gashi

Former Consul General of the Republic of Kosovo in Iowa

Former Kosovo Security and Defense Attaché in Washington DC

Brigadier General (R),

Honorary Major General,

Recently voluntarily retired after serving for more than twenty (20) years for Kosovo institutions in both military and diplomacy. Last three years of his public service he has served as the very First Consul General at the Consulate of the Republic of Kosovo in Des Moines, Iowa. Being the first diplomat and leading the only diplomatic mission in the State of Iowa gave him the unique opportunity to accomplish together with Iowa partners many achievements, but also a great opportunity to learn more.  For more than 9 (nine) years direct cooperation and communication with Iowa National Guard, Iowa State Government, Greater Des Moines Partnership, many City Mayors, their Chamber of Commerce, Universities and Colleges, rotary clubs, sport clubs, churches and other public and private companies and institutions.

Brigadier General (Retired), Gashi has served as the very first Kosovo Security Force/Defense Attaché to the United States. As a military/ defense diplomat in Washington D.C. except working with Pentagon and other defense / military and security institutions, he did coordinate activities and cooperate also with U.S. Congress and Senate, U.S. Department of State, DHS, FBI and other U.S. government agencies as well as NGO ‘s and Think Tanks.

He retired from Military as Brigadier General and with honorary rank of Major General after completing almost twenty years of service. He was Senior Officer in the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), with a proven academic record and with more than 18 years of experience in Security Sector Reform. As Chef de Cabinet for Commander Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), was intimately involved in Force Development projects linked to the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement and the creation of the KSF. Directly involved in the ISSR process in Kosovo and representative of KPC in the ISSR Secretariat. Active member of NATO Operational Planning Team Workshops. Served in a lead role in Working Groups on Dissolution of KPC and Establishment of the future Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force and the Kosovo Security Force.

Previously served as first Director of Security Cooperation Department working with Euro-Atlantic partners on bilateral security development and capacity building programs and partnerships, where as a result many bilateral MoU `s were signed under his leadership. A key member of the Minister for KSF and Commander of KSF’s immediate staffs, contributing to a wide range of conceptual and doctrinal development to support the KSF Vision. He has hands on experience in DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) immediately after the war in Kosovo in 1999 working with IOM, UNMIK, and KFOR. 

During his military and civilian experience, he has hosted, organized, co-organized many conferences and workshops. Also, he had the opportunity to be as a moderator and guest speaker to different audiences from different institutions both in Kosovo and United states of America, but also in some other countries as well. Amongst institutions or organizations he has presented or lectured are Drake University- IOWA, USMA West Point, SOC Sovereign Challenge conference, AUK- RIT, DMACC – Iowa,  University of Iowa, at many US military bases, different Embassies in US and Kosovo, Rotary Clubs, business companies etc. 

Awarded with medals by:

•             TRADOC and KPC Academy for distinguished service in Establishing the first English Lab at TRADO/ KPC Academy

•             Commander of KPC for distinguished service in KPC.

•             Minister of KSF (Kosovo Security Force) for extraordinary achievements and service in building and enhancing Security Cooperation.

•             COM KSF (Kosovo Security Force) for excellent service in foundation and development of KSF.

•             Adjutant General of Iowa National Guard Distinguished Service Medal

•             Minister of KFS forces for distinguished service in KFS, and military diplomacy as an attaché in Washington D.C.

•             Commander of KSF for successful completion of the career in military service.  

•             Iowa Sister States Robert D. Ray ISS Service Award

•             President`s Medal of Honor by DMAC (Des Moines Area Community College) President

•             Honorary citizen of the Iowa City of Norwalk

Appointments:

2016    Consul General to the Consulate of the Republic of Kosovo in Iowa, USA

2011    BG Security Attaché to the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Washington, DC USA

2009    Col - Director of Security Cooperation Department – Ministry of KSF.  

2006       Col - Chief of Cabinet to Commander Kosovo Protection Corps.

2004       Lt Col – Military Assistant & KPC LNO to KFOR, KPS, UNMIK and IC.

2003       Lt Col - Military Assistant to Commander Kosovo Protection Corps.

2002       Maj - Officer Commanding Foreign Language School TRADOC KPC. (Founder of the first English lab and the  first KPC teacher of English Language)

1999       Capt. - Captain/Personnel Officer Kosovo Protection Corps.

Additional Education/training programs- Experience & Achievements:

-KFOR/NATO Basic and Advanced Officer Courses in 2001/2002

-Indiana University in USA, IEP Level 5,6 -2002- 2003, and Methods of Teaching 2003

-Disaster Management Courses Organized by Stability Pact SEE and directed by DMC Bournemouth University UK held in Slovenia and Croatia 2004-2005,

-Working Table III-Security Issues NATO Specialized Module 3 Planning; Presentation in How to Plan and Develop a National Disaster Response Plan – on behalf of SEE Countries participants

-Working Table III-Security Issues NATO Specialized Module 1 Tunnels

 -Introductory Course in Security Sector Governance and Actors DCAF Geneva, Switzerland 2005

-International Summer Seminar-Crisis Management in South Eastern Europe – 2006 Croatia

-Security Management Simulation Exercise for Security Sector Experts of the Kosovo PISG – by DCAF – Switzerland experts held in Pristina, July 2006

-Adviser and Analyst Development Group Summer School- at the Kosovo Police Service Academy, Vushtrri, Kosovo, held by King’s College London, Centre for Defense Studies, August 2006

-Kosovo School for European Integration March – June 2006 –By Kosovo Foundation for Open Society and Kosovo Civil Society Foundation

-KFOR KPC Colonels Seminar KFOR HQ Film City Dec 2006

-Program on US National Security, 2007 Institute on U.S. National Security, National Security Policymaking in a Post 9-11World Sponsored by United States Department of State and UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (San Diego/San Francisco/ Washington D.C.)

-Seminar on Strategy Development and Controlling- Austrian Project Police Cooperation for fighting THB, Smuggling and Illegal Migrations

-WDM Executive Seminar – Kosovo, Budva – Montenegro 2009 organized by U.S DOD

-International Defense Management Course and International Defense Acquisition Management Program- 2000, 2011(Monterey, CA)

-Knowledge Development and Management Course- PfP Centre Ankara, Turkey 2010

-Security Stabilization Transition and Reconstruction Course - Marshal Center, Garmisch, Germany – 2011

-Security Cooperation Management International Purchaser Orientation Course – Wright Patterson Air Force Ohio – 2011

-Executive Program in Defense Decision Making – CCMR, NPS, Monterey, CA U.S. 2011

-TeleStrategies ISS World Americas courses from 2013 to 2015 on Intelligence Support Systems for Electronic Surveillance, Social Media/DarkNet Monitoring and Cyber Crime Investigations  

-Co-founder of Kosovo Marshall Centre Alumni Association (organizer and moderator of two MC Conferences in Pristina) 2006-2008

Xhavit Gashi is alumni of many prestigious institutions of the US and other countries including, United States Army War College, George Marshall Center, FBI Citizens Academy, DECAF (Democratic Control of Armed Forces), NPS Monterey,  United States Department of Education/ KUSA, Defense Attaché Association of the USA, United States Special Operations Command Sovereign Challenge Conference, and few more.

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Recently published an article on Kosovo Cybersecurity Security Building and the urgency for better protection with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  https://issuu.com/amchamkosovo/docs/amcham_horizon_magazine_december_20…