Naseema, hero of the War in Afghanistan was born in Afghanistan and came to the U.S. as a teenager to get an education. 

Naseema was born in Afghanistan and came to the U.S. as a teenager to get an education. She enlisted in the Air Force in 1985 and attained the rank of master sergeant. She completed her Masters in Management and graduated from Officer Training School, receiving her commission in April 2001.

On Sept. 11, 2001, she was the only Airman fluent in Pashto, the same language spoken by the insurgent group known as the Taliban. Naseema was immediately deployed as an Aircrew Linguist. The Air Force waived all Aircrew requirements and she deployed as Aircrew Linguist in the RC135 (Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft). Naseema was awarded several Air Medals specifically for flying combat missions.

Because of her distinguished service, she was next assigned to the National Security Agency in Ft. Meade, Maryland, providing near real-time intelligence support for the entire U.S. air and ground operations in Afghanistan. After two deployments, she was assigned to the National Security Agency for four years. Her work included conducting signals intelligence, processing and exploited via airborne and ground sensors and informing personnel across the intelligence community.

In 2009, President Obama made building partner capacity a top National Security Strategy Priority. Major Naseema was selected to be the Director of the Building Partner Aviation Capacity Seminar, the first and only one of its kind, at the USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Florida. She was responsible for curriculum development and execution of the Air Force’s first and only Building Partner Capacity course. Additionally, she delivered lessons on Afghan culture and Islam.

Major Naseema retired in 2011.