Biography
Paul "Dave" Gaubatz, former Federal Agent with the equivalent rank of major, is a U.S. State Department-trained Arabic linguist and counterterrorism specialist. He has acquired over two decades of experience while working on assignments in Middle-Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iraq. Currently Chief Field Investigator with the Dallas County Medical Examiner, Dallas, Texas, Mr. Gaubatz created Gaubatz Arabic & Counterterrorism Lecture Services in December, 2004.
The first U.S. civilian Federal Agent deployed to Nasiriyah, Iraq, in 2003, Mr. Gaubatz was able to travel to various cities throughout Iraq, using his Arabic-language training extensively. During this time, he led a mission to rescue the family of Mohammed Odeh Al-Rehaief, the Iraqi lawyer who saved the life of Private Jessica Lynch. Today, Mr. Al-Rehaief and his family live safely in the Washington, D.C. area.
Upon returning from Iraq in July 2003, Mr. Gaubatz wrote a practical, basic Arabic street survival guide, and began lecturing in schools and businesses, and also to law enforcement officers. He instructed criminal justice students of law enforcement and other security professionals in simple investigative Arabic words and phrases, and Middle Eastern customs, which soon led to the creation of Gaubatz Arabic & Counterterrorism Lecture Services in 2004. Mr. Gaubatz currently trains over 200 Law Enforcement officers weekly.
Mr. Gaubatz's career began in 1977 when he joined the United States Air Force. Before retiring from the USAF in 1999, he served his last 12 years as Special Agent with the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, AFOSI; his duties there included investigations of felony crimes against the USAF and U.S. government, as well as counterterrorism and counterintelligence investigative assignments. After spending one year with Target Corporation as National Investigator, in 2000 Mr. Gaubatz returned to AFOSI as U.S. Federal Agent. In 2002 he attended an intensive Arabic-language course at the U.S. State Department, Foreign Service Institute, which included a three-week immersion trip to Jordan. Arriving in the Middle East in January 2003, he was soon assigned to Nasiriyah, Iraq.
Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Mr. Gaubatz was raised in Rocky Mount near Roanoke, Va. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from Saint Leo College, Saint Leo, Fla., and is married with two children.
While an OSI agent, both civilian and as a member of the USAF, Dave received a number of awards and medals for his service, including multiple Meritorious Service Medals with Oak Leaf Cluster, multiple Air Force Achievement Medals with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Department of the Air Force Performance Award, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (for counterintelligence work), and the Department of the Air Force's Award for Exemplary Civilian Service.
