David Oliver

About David Oliver

Psychological Operations (PSYOP) and Arabic Linguist professional with operational, academic, and cross-cultural experience spanning defense, intelligence, and information operations. Recognized for language mastery, mission resilience, and cultural fluency in dynamic and strategic environments.Educated at Victoria College from primary school through secondary school, alongside an array of international students from around the world, where early exposure to diplomacy and international affairs shaped a lifelong focus on communication and influence.MILITARY SERVICE: • 09L Translator Aide — Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) • 37F Psychological Operations Specialist — Supported strategic communication and influence operations within joint and multinational frameworks KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Completed 250+ combat patrols across diverse operational environments • Led language and cultural-awareness training for Soldiers and partner forces • Awards: – Army Commendation Medal – Army Achievement Medal (4th Award) – NATO Commendation LINGUISTIC PROFICIENCY (ILR-validated): – Modern Standard Arabic — 30 Listening / 26 Reading – Levantine Arabic — 30 Listening – Egyptian Arabic — 26 Listening – Iraqi Arabic — 30 Listening – Sudanese Arabic — 30 Listening / 30 Speaking – Yemeni Arabic — 30 Listening – Saudi Arabic — 20 Listening During the Train/Ready phase prior to deployment, I applied for a direct commission. My commander’s feedback was crushingly simple: “You make a great NCO.” It was meant as praise, I guess — but it drew a line I wasn’t ready to accept.Denied advancement, I chose growth: • B.A. in Intelligence Studies (2014) • M.A. in Homeland Security with Honors (2018) — joining the 8% of enlisted personnel who hold a master’s degree.Guided by the “Be, Know, Do” philosophy, I continue applying resilience, analytical rigor, and cultural fluency to PSYOP, influence, and linguistic operations — and to creative expression as a DJ/producer, designer, and writer bridging cultures through communication.

Experience

1. Supervisor

   UPS

   Feb 2022 — Present · US

Education

• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

  Iraqi

  2012

• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

  Certificate, Egyptian

  2012

• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

  Certificate, Modern Standard Arabic

  2012

• American Public University System

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Intelligence Studies

  2009 — 2014

• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

  Certificate, Levantine

  2012

• American Military University

  Master of Arts (M.A.), Homeland Security

  2015 — 2017

• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

  Certificate, Sudanese

  2014