Ahmad Shah Mohibi
 
Ahmad Shah Mohibi is the founder of Rise to Peace, a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on countering terrorism through education and research. Born in Afghanistan amidst the Soviet-Afghan War, he grew up in the 1990s Afghan Civil War. At just 16, during Operation Enduring Freedom, he supported U.S. military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan—helping train the Afghan National Army and engaging in counterinsurgency operations. 
 
He later served as an advisor with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and with Joint Task Force 435. There, he supported the prosecution of over 120 terrorism cases, working closely with the Afghan Attorney General’s Office and U.S. officials—including DOJ’s Michael R. Sherwin—to prosecute detainees involved in violent extremist activities, many of whom were young and radicalized.
 
After years of service in Afghanistan, Shah earned a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and moved to the United States—committed to continuing his mission as an “American proud.” As a federal employee, he worked on critical national security matters, political transitions, and U.S. foreign policy engagement.  He also provided subject matter expertise to the U.S. Department of Defense and Pentagon leadership—traveling across multiple U.S. military bases to train senior military and civilian personnel deploying to conflict zones.
 
In 2016, Shah founded Rise to Peace to bring battlefield-tested knowledge into education, policy, and peacebuilding. The organization has since become a force for global impact—hosting more than 30 international conferences, training 500+ professionals from 34 countries, and publishing over 560 reports on terrorism, radicalization, and global security. Shah’s unparalleled ability to help, coach, and train—mentoring students, leaders, and soldiers with hard-earned wisdom—builds a network spanning governments and sectors, making Rise to Peace a peacebuilding powerhouse.
 
He holds academic degrees from George Mason University and George Washington University, focused on international relations, government, and national security. Since 2017, Shah has become a recognized political commentator, appearing on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, and TRT World. His analysis of terrorism, war, and U.S. foreign policy has reached international audiences, with notable segments covering the Kabul airport evacuation. He is the author of Inside the Terrorist Mind: Exploring the Psychosocial Drivers of Violent Extremism and contributed to NATO’s volume From Territorial Defeat to Global ISIS: Lessons Learned (IOS Press), including his article The Afghan Peace Talks: Feasible or Futile? published in the Washington Examiner.
 

In His Own Words

I was born in war. Raised in war. Fought in war.
I immigrated because of war. And I still fight because of war.

But now, I fight differently. I am a proud American—made in America.

I didn’t read about terrorism in a classroom—I lived it, survived it, and fought it head-on. While others studied counterterrorism theories, I was on the front lines, dodging IEDs, working alongside U.S. forces, and dismantling terrorist networks. My contributions and the threats I faced led the U.S. government to bring me here as recognition of my service.

But coming to America didn’t mean leaving the fight behind. It meant continuing the mission on a new battlefield.

I served alongside over 30 nations under NATO command, training more than 35,000 Afghan soldiers to fight terrorism. I advised senior U.S. government officials and military leaders before their deployments across the Middle East and Afghanistan, briefing them at the Pentagon and other high-level government institutions.

When I came to the U.S., I didn’t just settle—I built a mission. I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees and founded Rise to Peace, a counterterrorism organization that focuses on real solutions, not political posturing. Terrorism isn’t a theory to me. I know what works, what fails, and what needs to change.

My work exposes terrorist networks, dismantles recruitment pipelines, and challenges weak policies that allow extremism to thrive. Governments debate—I act.

Since 2017, I have hired, coached and worked with over 500 interns and research fellows from 34 different countries, building a global network of counterterrorism professionals. I have hosted over 30 international conferences on terrorism, peace, and security, bringing together top experts and policymakers.

I have written and published more than 680 op-eds, special reports, and articles with the Rise to Peace team, dissecting global security threats and solutions. Additionally, I have authored two books on ISIS and radicalism, breaking down the ideological and operational mechanics of modern terrorism.

Because of my background, I don’t sugarcoat reality. That’s why major media outlets turn to me for direct, no-nonsense analysis. I have appeared on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, Al Jazeera, TRT World, and hundreds of other international platforms, covering issues from terrorism and Afghanistan to Middle East conflicts and U.S. domestic extremism.

This war isn’t over—it has just moved to new fronts. The battlefield is now in media, policy, and the minds of young leaders who will shape the future. I work with students, researchers, and security professionals to train the next generation of counterterrorism experts who will fight extremism with intelligence, strategy, and bold action.

You don’t need a weapon to fight terrorism. You need knowledge, influence, and the courage to act.

🔴 Join the mission. Together, we’ll fight for a safer world.


Follow & Connect with Ahmad Shah Mohibi 

📩 For inquiries, business, and media requests: amohibi@risetopeace.org

🔗 Follow for real insights and bold conversations:

🌍 Learn more about my work: Rise to Peace