Hashem Baluch

Mr. Baluch has been a dedicated leader within our Society. We have greatly benefited from his service as the Treasurer on our Executive Committee for multiple terms, including his service from 2018 through 2020. He continues to guide our organization today by serving as a Member of our Board of Directors.

Early Life and Education

Mr. Baluch earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Kabul Polytechnic University, attending the institution from 1975 to 1980. Following the completion of his degree, he left Kabul and walked for two days across the mountainous border to Peshawar, Pakistan. He subsequently immigrated to the United States, where he acquired U.S. citizenship and established his residence in Centerville, Virginia.

Professional Engineering Career

Mr. Baluch has built a robust career in civil engineering and project management, accumulating over 10 years of experience providing logistics, operations, maintenance, and training support in conflict zones. In the United States, he worked as a Senior Field Engineer for Clark Construction in the DC Metropolitan Area from January 1995 to February 2003. Later in his career, he took on the role of Project Manager and Business Development lead at Yahya Contracting, LLC, beginning in March 2015. Since January 2018, he has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Mason Contracting LLC, located in Fairfax, Virginia.

Contributions to Capacity Building in Afghanistan

We recognize Mr. Baluch for his significant contributions to the training and capacity building of the Afghan workforce. In April 2004, he returned to Kabul to serve as the Training Manager for the Contrack Construction Training Center, operated by Contrack International Inc. In this capacity, he trained Afghan workers in essential trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, masonry, painting, and steel fixing. During his time there, the center successfully graduated nearly 700 students, and he was promoted to become the first Afghan-American project manager to oversee operations at the training center in May 2005.

He further applied his expertise as the Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID Energy Policy Project with Advanced Engineering Associates International Inc. from March 2009 to October 2010. In this role, he oversaw capacity building for the Afghan Energy Sector, working closely with Da Afghan Brishna Sherkat (DABS) and the Ministry of Energy and Water to provide advanced technical and management training to ministry departments and students. From March 2011 to December 2013, he worked as a Project Manager for Contrack Watts, Inc., where he established and managed operations for a Vocational Training Center. He developed the curriculum for five trades and facilitated the entry of over 250 new laborers into the local workforce, earning positive recognition from the Government of Afghanistan.

Personal Life and Skills

Mr. Baluch is fluent in English, Pashto, Dari, and Farsi, and he possesses a deep understanding of the local environment and culture in Afghanistan. He is married to Masooda, who has worked as a dentist and college instructor, and together they have three children.