ATFL Names Security Expert, Auto Industry Veteran Leslie Touma Executive Director

WASHINGTON - Oct. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) announced today that security expert and automotive industry veteran Leslie Touma will replace Dr. George Cody, who is retiring after 23 years as Executive Director of the organization.

Ms. Touma will be joining the ATFL after seven years at LTA, LLC, a Michigan-based consulting firm that specializes in the global automotive, security and defense sectors. Since 2008 she has also worked with the nonprofit Michigan Security Network to accelerate technology development, investment and job growth in the homeland security sector.

“Leslie has an outstanding record of achievement in both business and government and is well regarded by people in both sectors. She also is a proud Lebanese-American,” said ATFL Chairman and former US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham. “She will be a great addition to the ATFL team.”

“Leslie has a perfect balance of experience and leadership in the private, public and non-profit sectors,” said ATFL President and former US Ambassador to Morocco Edward M. Gabriel. “She brings a national security background, as well as a strong network of private and non-profit contacts that will benefit her in this new position.”

Prior to her time at LTA, LCC, Ms. Touma served as Vice President for Corporate Relations and Director of Government Relations and Investor Relations at Lear Corporation, a Fortune 150 company and one of the world’s largest automotive Tier One suppliers. In 2000, Automotive News named her one of 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry. Ms. Touma also brings five years of experience as a policy analyst at the US Department of Defense. A former congressional candidate, Ms. Touma was selected as a 2011 Michigan’s Top Leaders and Innovators. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

“I have always been extremely proud of my Lebanese heritage, and look forward to engaging with our dynamic Lebanese-American national network,” said Ms. Touma. “In particular, I welcome the opportunity to work with ATFL’s leaders and members to advance its mission at this critical time.”

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About the American Task Force for Lebanon:

The ATFL was founded by prominent Lebanese Americans in 1987 and incorporated in 1989, and has since worked to connect Americans of Lebanese heritage, and promote the national unity, security, and prosperity of a free and democratic Lebanon. The group was instrumental in the 1990s in urging the US to lift its 10-year travel ban on Lebanon, and has undertaken a number of humanitarian initiatives, including cluster-bomb clearance and demining efforts and purchasing 13 ambulances for the Lebanese Red Cross. Since violence broke out in Syria in 2011, the ATFL has worked to mitigate the humanitarian crisis caused by an influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon and has worked to raise awareness of the refugee situation. The ATFL has also urged the US to substantially increase security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, and General Security. The ATFL advocates for religious coexistence and the protection of vulnerable religious communities in the Middle East.

For more information, visit www.atfl.org.