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Ahmed Shafik
Ahmed Mohamed Shafik Zaki
Ahmed Mohamed Shafik Zaki born November 1941 is a former senior commander in the Egyptian Air Force and politician who served as Prime Minister of Egypt from January 2011 to March 2011. After a career as a fighter pilot, squadron, wing and base commander, Shafik was the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force from 1996 to 2002, reaching the rank of air marshal. Thereafter he served in the government as Minister of Civil Aviation from 2002 to 2011.
Personal Info.
Full Name
Ahmed Mohamed Shafik Zaki
Age
72 years - born 25 November 1941
Religion
Muslim Sunni
Birth
Born 25th November 1941
Education
- 1961 graduated from the Air Force Academy
- Fellowship of the Supreme War College, Nasser Higher Military Academy
- Fellowship of the War College, senior common weapons, Paris
- PhD in the national strategy of outer space.
Books authored
N/A
Positions Held
Political activities
As a civil aviation minister, he tackled some of the major problems at the national carrier EgyptAir, upgraded Egyptian airports management and infrastructure and improved relations with domestic and international private operators and international regulatory authorities.
Shafik undertook an ambitious restructuring plan for EgyptAir and managed to achieve a turnaround in the company's performance. Egyptair became a Star Alliance member in 2008.
Shafik is also considered to have effectively modernized the Egyptian airports, transforming the Cairo International Airport into a regional hub through the inauguration of Terminal 3 in 2008 and bringing its annual capacity to 22 million passengers. Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport reached an annual capacity of 8 million passengers after opening Terminal 2.
In the course of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, Shafik was named Prime Minister on January 29. However, his Premiership was to be short-lived, lasting just over a month, after he resigned on 3 March due to pressure from protestors and the opposition. They had objected to Shafik staying on as PM, having been seen as one of Mubarak's old guard. Shafik was alleged to have been a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces that took over power after Mubarak's departure on February 11, 2011. Shafik was succeeded by Essam Sharaf after he stepped down.
Union work
N/A
Social Activities
N/A
Scientific and cultural activities
N/A
About Family
Parents
His father: Mohamed Shafiq, secretary of the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation
Partners
Was married to Azza Tawfik Tawfik Abdel-Fattah Abdel-Fattah daughter of former Minister of Labour and Social solidarity
Children
Three daughters
History
As a young officer, Shafik served as a fighter pilot and was later appointed as fighter air squadron commander. During the War of Attrition (1967–1970), Shafik saw active service as the Multi-Task Airwing Commander. Subsequently he took up a post as an air base commander.
During the 1973 October War, Shafik was a senior fighter pilot under Hosni Mubarak's command. It is believed that Shafik shot down two Israeli aircraft during the war on October 14, 1973.
During his 40 years of service in the Egyptian Air Force as a fighter pilot, he flew several types of fighter jets including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 and the Dassault Mirage 2000; he also acted as the wing commander for the Egyptian Air Force acrobatic team. He is also fully qualified on the American-built McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.
In 1984 Shafik was appointed a military attaché in the Egyptian Embassy in Rome. He continued in this role until 1986. During 1988 to 1991, Shafik served several military senior command positions before he was appointed as the Commander of the Air Operations Department.
In September 1991, Shafik was appointed as the Air Force's Chief of Staff, holding this position until April 1996, when he became Commander of the Egyptian Air Force. In 2002, he was appointed as Minister of Civil Aviation and was succeeded by his chief of staff Air Marshal Magdy Galal Sharawi.
On 10 July, Shafik made his first public appearance since resigning as Prime Minister. He attended the graduation ceremony of the Egyptian Air Force Academy class along with the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces. In November 2011, Shafik announced his candidacy in the Egyptian Presidential Elections
His Words
- The Battle of the Camel is an illusion, and whoever wants to hold me responsible for it is “Joking”
- I believed in the revolution, and it was my Idea that Mubarak should step down, and half of the people from Midan tahrir visit me at home on regular bases.
- I am more popular than I thought, and you cannot count me as one of the old regime as I have only held the Prime Minister position for the last 10 days, and I do not care who hates me.
