The Project Director of SPACE-Seattle, Kim Myran,
was called to duty by the U.S. Army in October of 2003 and,
after completing the pre-mobilization training she was deployed
to Iraq in February 2004. As a brilliant architect in her
civilian job, LTC (Lieutenant Cornel) Myran's special skill
set was also put to use by the U.S. Military. Kim's primary
mission as an Education Officer to the Governorate Support
Team (which was in charge of rehabilitating the infrastructure
to help rebuild the city of Baghdad) was to coordinate projects
with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of
Youth and Sports. The mission was to avoid conflict and overlapping
responsibilities between the rebuilding efforts of the Military
forces, non-governmental organizations and Iraqi ministries.
In her role as the Education Officer, Kim was placed in charge of the Professor Exchange workshop with the University of Baghdad Professors. Kim escorted them to the U.S. to visit other Universities to coordinate future programs in their various academic backgrounds to help boost the level of Higher Education in Iraq. This mission is imperative to rebuilding Iraq, as Baghdad is about 13 years behind in Computer Science.
Kim knew in advance that her service to her country would put her in extremely dangerous areas but served with the hope of giving back to those whose lives have been damaged by years of oppression followed by years of war.
“Prior to arriving in Iraq, I made it my personal goal to make a difference in the life of at least one Iraqi person.
I know in my heart that I had made a difference.” |
