Terry is one of the greatest friends that I have ever had in my life. When I think about my closest friends, Terry is at the top of the list!

I met Terry Garcia, Executive Vice President of the National Geographic Society, more than 15 years ago. I quickly discovered that he is a very knowledgeable person, honest and straightforward. I think he is the one who asked me to be one of National Geographic’s Explorers. All Explorers are people who have made great contributions to various scientific fields, including archaeology, and because of Terry’s support this program is respected and valued by many people.

In 2005, when I was considering ways to bring income to what was then the Supreme Council of Antiquities, I thought about taking a few small objects belonging to Tutankhamun on a tour of cities in the States . The exhibit was organized by a private company, but I asked many institutions and museums in that country to sponsor it. Unfortunately, no one wanted to do this without benefitting themselves!

Over a period of 20 years, Egypt had sent many exhibitions abroad, including one about Tutankhamun, one about Hatshepsut and one on the Old Kingdom, but Egypt never made a penny! I was very pleased therefore when Terry agreed that the National Geographic Society would help and with their support $100 million was raised for conservation projects and construction work in Egypt, like the building of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

Terry and I would meet at the opening event of every leg of the exhibition. We would talk about the future of archaeology and he always had a sincere belief in my ability to make a difference to it. Terry also came to visit me in Egypt many times and we had great adventures together, including exploring the tunnel inside Seti I’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Terry is a serious scholar whose studies and reading helped him to gain his position at National Geographic, and to fulfill his role in an excellent and productive way. I always believed that he would rise to the top because he is diplomatic and chooses his words carefully.

For a while after the Revolution in Egypt critics of my work began to appear and attack me with no evidence. Sadly, some reporters in the States picked up these stories and published them, but Terry always stood by me because he knows me well and knows that I am not a politician. I am a scholar and was never a member of a political party, including the National Democratic Party here in Egypt. It is important to know that if you have enemies, they will try to attack you and will make up stories.

I am proud that Terry Garcia has now been chosen to be the Deputy Secretary of Commerce for the US government. I have been reading through all the e-mails sent in support of him in his new job, and some of them are really beautiful and full of love. I too believe he is the right person for this important role and wish him all the best!

I have faith that my two other good friends at National Geographic, John Fahey and Tim Kelly, will continue to support Egypt in the way that Terry has in the past.

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Posted on May 17, 2011.