DA's New IT Chief Escaped Saddam's Iraq

Long before he was designing information technology systems for large companies, Usama "Sam" Georges was designing something far more important: his clandestine escape from Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Last month, Georges began his new role at the District Attorney's Office as Chief of the Information Technology Division. The journey to this point in his career took a path many only read about.

After Georges graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from a university in England, he was drafted into the Iraqi military. He was assigned to the paratrooper unit from 1984 to 1987 until he was seriously injured by a bomb. More than 200 fragments embedded in his skin after the explosion.

"Just one year ago a doctor removed the last fragment that remained in my back," he said.

Serving in the Iraqi Army under Hussein left little room for choice. One did as they were told or their families would be tortured Georges said. During his eight years in the military, he became known as an 'honest man' who tended to find himself under investigation on numerous occasions.

"The only reason I wasn't killed is because the army was weak after the Gulf War," Georges said.

Still, even though his life was spared, his assignments became more intolerable -- evidence he wasn't free of punishment for leading with integrity.

In 1992, Georges refused to take part in a violent assault in an area he was in charge of in Northern Iraq. Instead, he negotiated a peaceful end, which was perceived by military intelligence as defying orders. He was ordered to the capital to face an investigation, and Georges knew his family would never see him again if he went to the meeting.

Georges, his wife and their two small children managed to escape Iraq. The family was smuggled through check points until they reached relative safety. Ultimately, they settled in Turkey, where they applied for political asylum and were eventually relocated to San Diego.

"We've been through a lot," Georges said. "It's heartbreaking, but it's something I must talk about in order to influence future generations."

Georges worked at a gas station, a liquor store and did other odd jobs after arriving in San Diego in 1996. He finished his master's degree and eventually went on to work at a number of high profile companies in the information technology department including 10 years at Hubbs-SeaWorld as the director of information technology.

He has taught IT related courses at a number of area colleges including Foundation College, Coleman University and Cuyamaca College.
At the DA's Office, he oversees 27 employees who carry out the information technology mission of the organization, which includes courtroom prosecution and community outreach efforts.