AEDC squadron commander lands joint position in U.K. Published June 29, 2009 By Janae' Daniels Arnold Engineering Development Center Public Affairs Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. -- When Lt. Col. L. Najeeb Ahmed entered the Air Force as a commissioned officer in 1992, he set two professional goals for himself. The first was to deploy to help support the warfighter and the second was to get an assignment overseas. He accomplished this first goal in 2006 by deploying to Bosnia. The second goal, he recently found out, will be fulfilled next year when he begins training as the next assistant air attaché to the United Kingdom (U.K.) under the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). "Having worked with embassies and attachés before I think this is a unique experience," he said. "You really are in the middle of that country and by the end of three years we will know the U.K. inside and out." Although he will be working for DIA, Colonel Ahmed, who is currently the commander of the 717th Test Squadron, is still charged with representing the Air Force in a positive and professional manner. "The selection board for the attaché position wants to make sure the person they choose has professional qualities, understands the Air Force and understands the mission," he explained. "My boss, who is the attaché, and I will handle all Air Force matters in the U.K. When people look at us, they will see the Air Force." According to the Air Force Web site, the attaché positions are filled by officers in the rank of major through brigadier general. They build and sustain the key international relationships that ensure required access enabling DoD global operations and directly supporting the Overseas Contingency Operation. Now that he has been selected, Colonel Ahmed and his family will prepare for attaché duty, which typically involves a lengthy training period in the Washington, D.C., area. He is scheduled to start training in January 2010.