Naeem M. Abdurrahman

Naeem M. Abdurrahman
Born	Naeem Al-Gheriany Template:Birth year and age Tripoli, Libya
Other names	Naeem Al-Gheriany
Occupation(s)	Nuclear scientist, engineer, academic, politician
Years active	1970s–present
Known for	Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Libya (2011), nuclear science expertise

Naeem M. Abdurrahman (also known as Naeem Al-Gheriany) (Arabic: نعيم عبدالرحمن الغرياني) is a Libyan expert in nuclear science, engineering, and academia. On 22 November 2011, he was designated as Libya's minister of higher education and scientific research by Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib.

Early life

Born in Tripoli, Libya in 1954, Gheriany completed his primary and secondary schooling in his hometown.

Education

During the early 1970s, Gheriany was awarded a scholarship by the Libyan government to pursue studies in the United States. He graduated with honors, earning dual B.Sc. degrees in nuclear engineering and engineering physics from the University of Tennessee. After returning to Libya in 1978, he worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Tripoli. The following year, he resumed his education in the U.S., obtaining an M.Sc. in nuclear engineering from the University of Washington, followed by a PhD in nuclear science and engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Additionally, he acquired a Professional Engineer (PE) certification from Connecticut and completed an MBA at Washington State University. Since 2009, Gheriany has been employed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Engineering and Technology and lives with his wife Mariam and their five children in Germantown, MD.

Political Involvement

Gheriany became involved in opposition activities against Muammar Gaddafi’s government starting in the mid-1970s during his undergraduate studies. He played a key role in founding the General Union for the Students of Libya in North America and was among the founding members of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya during the early 1980s, serving on its Permanent Bureau throughout that decade.

His political engagement persisted through the 2011 Libyan Civil War, where he led efforts within the Libyan-American diaspora and acted as a media specialist on Libyan matters. He represented the Libyan-American community as a spokesperson, advocating for U.S. and international recognition of the National Transitional Council, denouncing Gaddafi’s regime, and calling for humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, Gheriany advises organizations including The American-Libyan Council and the International Forum for Libyan Experts.

Career

Gheriany launched his professional journey as a senior scientist at Advanced Innovative Sciences before moving into academia in 1993 as a professor and director of the nuclear engineering program at the University of Texas at Austin. During his tenure there, he notably expanded both student enrollment and research funding while authoring over fifty scientific publications.

He subsequently held positions as principal scientist at Fluor Corporation’s Department of Energy Hanford site and at CH2M HILL. In 2009, he joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Engineering and Technology. From 2010 onward, he has served as a nuclear scientist within DOE Headquarters' Office of Safety and Security while also holding an adjunct professorship at the Catholic University of America.

Gheriany has played a significant role on technical review panels and advisory committees for the DOE, including leadership roles in National Academy of Science studies and nuclear safety research initiatives. His expertise has been sought by prominent organizations such as the American Nuclear Society, National Science Foundation, and international nuclear conferences. His panel contributions extend to participation in U.S./Russian technical collaborations on fissile material disposition as well as involvement with OECD Nuclear Energy Agency safety groups.