Gamal Helal

Gamal Helal (born March 22, 1954 ) is an Egyptian-American interpreter and diplomat who translated on behalf of multiple Presidents of the United States and Secretaries of State.

Early life Helal, a Coptic Christian, was born in Asyut, Egypt, in 1954 and went on to study at Assiut University, where he earned a bachelor of arts.

Diplomatic career Helal began his diplomatic career in the mid-1980s when he joined the United States Department of State. In the lead-up to the Gulf War, he interpreted for Secretary of State James Baker and Iraqi emissary Tariq Aziz at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, at which time Aziz was presented with an ultimatum to withdraw troops from Kuwait. until he left in October 2009 to launch his own consulting business, named Helal Enterprises.