Mahmoud Freihat (Arabic: محمود فريحات,

romanized In linguistics, romanization is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and transcription, ...

: Maḥmūd Frayḥāt; January 1, 1960) is a retired Jordanian

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

who served as the

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: appointment; gra ...

of the Jordanian Armed Forces from 2016 to 2019. Known for his focus on military modernization and regional security, Freihat played a key role in strengthening Jordan's defense capabilities and fostering international military cooperation, particularly with the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

allies. During his tenure, Jordan contributed significantly to the Global Coalition to Defeat

ISIS Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...

and enhanced border security amidst regional instability.

Early life and education

Freihat was born in

Jerash Jerash (; , , ) is a city in northern Jordan. The city is the administrative center of the Jerash Governorate, and has a population of 50,745 as of 2015. It is located 30.0 miles north of the capital city Amman. The earliest evidence of sett ...

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

, on January 1, 1960. He graduated from Jordan's Royal Military Academy in 1980, marking the beginning of his military career. He later pursued advanced studies in the United Kingdom, earning a degree from

King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public university, public research university in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV ...

. and graduating from the Royal College of Defense Studies, both of which honed his strategic and operational expertise.

Military career

Freihat held several prominent roles in the Jordanian Armed Forces before being appointed as

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: appointment; gra ...

. He emphasized strengthening Jordan’s

counterterrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and Intelligence agency, intelligence ...

capabilities and enhancing interoperability with international forces. His leadership was particularly evident during high-level discussions with U.S. officials on military cooperation and regional security. During his leadership, Jordan played a critical role in the Global Coalition to Defeat

. Freihat oversaw operations aimed at securing Jordan’s borders and contributing to broader regional stability amidst ongoing conflicts in neighboring

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

and

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

Later life

After retiring in 2019 as part of a routine leadership transition within the Jordanian Armed Forces, which appointed Major General Yousef Huneiti as his successor, Freihat remained deeply involved in defense and security matters. His retirement was marked by a royal decree, with Freihat expressing gratitude to

King Abdullah II Abdullah II (Abdullah bin Hussein; born 30 January 1962) is King of Jordan, having ascended the throne on 7 February 1999. He is a member of the Hashemites, who have been the reigning royal family of Jordan since 1921, and is traditionally reg ...

for supporting the military's excellence. After retiring, he participated in international forums, provided strategic advice on regional stability, and engaged with academic institutions as a lecturer and mentor. Freihat’s insights on military strategy and counterterrorism continue to be highly valued, reflecting his enduring commitment to Middle Eastern security and stability.

Honors and awards

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

(

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

) - Awarded by the United States for his exceptional leadership and efforts to strengthen military ties between Jordan and the United States, particularly during his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. * Order of Independence - Honoring his contributions to national defense and strengthening Jordan’s international military standing. * Medal of Military Merit - Recognizing his service and dedication to the Jordanian Armed Forces.

References

External links

1960 births Living people Jordanian generals People associated with King's College London Members of the Senate of Jordan {{MEast-mil-bio-stub