Sada Cumber or Sada Kunbhar (Sindhi: صدا ڪنڀر) a Pakistani–American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and diplomat. He is an expert on US foreign policy and national security issues.[1] In 2008, President George W. Bush named him the first U.S. special Envoy to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference,[2] which promotes Muslim solidarity in social and political affairs. In that capacity, Cumber advanced United States interests among the OIC's 57 members nations, including promoting mutual understanding and dialogue[3] while combating intolerance, extremism and the conditions which create it.
Early history
Cumber was born in Karachi, Dominion of Pakistan in 1951 to a Sindhi family. He holds a bachelor's degree in commerce and a master's degree in history, both from the University of Karachi.[2] As a young adult, he worked in his family's photo studio.[4]
Cumber came to the United States in 1978 with his wife, Mumtaz, and has been an American citizen since 1986.[2]
Business and entrepreneurship
Cumber is an entrepreneur and investor. His business background is in senior management, marketing, and imaging technology. As an entrepreneur, Cumber specializes in national and global network strategy, strategic marketing, business planning and institution building.[5]
After briefly residing in New York City, Cumber moved to Miami where he operated a sundries store, a custom mailbox business, and worked nights as a photographer.[4] He acquired a photo lab in Midland, Texas before expanding to Austin, eventually owning seven photo labs in the city.[4]
From small business ownership, Cumber transitioned into entrepreneurship, using his background in photography and photo processing as starting point. Together, Cumber his wife founded more than a dozen enterprises, predominantly in the tech sector,[4] some of which were acquired by Fortune 500 companies.[6]
Diplomatic service
In 2005 Cumber made his first foray into the diplomatic world as honorary Consul General for the Republic of Malta.[7] He later served two terms as president of the Aga Khan Council for the Southwestern United States.[7]
On March 23, 2008, President George W. Bush named Cumber as special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference,[8][9] the second-largest intergovernmental organization in the world[10] His responsibilities included improving the dialogue between the United States and the world's 1.6 billion Muslims and enhancing the perception of the United States in the Muslim world.[9] During his term, he traveled to over 40 Muslim countries.[7]
Cumber's accomplishments as special envoy included:
Playing a central role in persuading the OIC leadership to publicly condemn terrorism and suicide bombing[7]
Securing increased international recognition for the Muslim-majority nation of Kosovo[7]
Arranging the first-ever visit of OIC leadership to the White House[7]
Public service and post-state department career
After leaving his state Department post, Cumber resumed an active role in public service and philanthropy, both domestically and internationally.[7]
In 2014, he was named to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board which oversees all public post-secondary education in the state, including setting policies and efforts to improve higher education[11]., Gov. Rick Perry appointed him to the position.
President George W. Bush meets with Sada Cumber, the First U.S. envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference Wednesday, February 27, 2008, in the Oval Office.
Cumber has also served on a diverse range of boards, civic/community organizations, advisory councils, and foundations.[12]
Board of directors, Foundation of Religion Studies, Texas
Life Member, Buck Rogers Group
In 2020, Cumber, along with over 130 other former Republican national security officials, signed a statement that asserted that President Trump was unfit to serve another term, and "To that end, we are firmly convinced that it is in the best interest of our nation that Vice President Joe Biden be elected as the next President of the United States, and we will vote for him."[13]
Writing
In an editorial in The Hill, Cumber argued for the importance of foreign aid in advancing US interests while also suggesting that the Trump Administration's proposed budget cuts could be an opportunity to make needed reforms in the US foreign aid system.[14] Though a Republican, Cumber argued in an op-ed for the Austin American-Statesman that President Trump had undermined American values and eroded confidence in the political process, and said it was time to place the presidency above the president.[15]
Sufism
Cumber attributes his success as a businessman and diplomat to his grounding in Sufism, a mystical form of Islam emphasizing mindfulness of God above ritual and which he credits for giving him a spiritual direction emphasizing peace, tolerance, and pluralism. Cumber was first exposed to Sufi philosophy as a boy in Karachi through listening to Ginans and Qawwali music.[4]
Cumber named his daughter Rabia in honor of Rabia Basri, the Arab Muslim saint and Sufi mystic, who believed that for one who truly loved God, that love alone should be enough without the promise of heaven or the threat of Hell.[4]
Personal life
Cumber lives in Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb south of Houston, with his wife Mumtaz.[7]
References
^"Sada Cumber". National Security Institute at George Mason University. June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
^Schwartz, Stephen (March 5, 2008). "Meet Sada Cumber". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
^ abcdefHamza, Balkki (March 2012). "Ambassador Sada Cumber". Autobiographical Profile Series of Public Officials of the Jim Jeffords Center for Policy Research at the University of Vermont.
