A Fairfield Man's Role In Rescuing Biden's Afghan Interpreter

FAIRFIELD, CT — In the past two months, Fairfield resident Alex Plitsas has helped more than 150 U.S. citizens and allies escape Afghanistan amid America’s military withdrawal and the rise of the Taliban.

But the past week’s rescue was different.

Plitas is a member of the leadership team at Human First Coalition, a group of veterans and logistics specialists that got Aman Khalili — who was once an interpreter for President Joe Biden — out of Afghanistan.

“He is safely on his way, hopefully to the United States soon,” Plitsas said Monday.

Khalili’s case gained national attention in late August, when it was featured by the Wall Street Journal. But many weeks would pass until Human First Coalition would bring Khalili, as well as his wife and five school-aged children, over the border to Pakistan. Senior State Department officials negotiated with the Pakistani government and the Khalili family’s case was expedited.

“It’s definitely a unique situation given his connection to President Biden,” Plitsas said.

Khalili worked as an interpreter for Biden in 2008, when the then-senator’s helicopter was forced to land in Afghanistan due to severe weather. For years, Khalili worked for U.S. contractors as a translator for the military, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“It does feel really good to be able to help him,” said Plitsas, a decorated Iraq veteran who also worked as a defense civilian intelligence officer in Afghanistan in 2012.

For Human First Coalition, whose organizers pooled their retirement savings to generate $6 million in relief funds, the work is far from over.

“We still have a lot more people to get out,” Plitsas said.

The Khalili family were among about 200 people who escaped to Pakistan and are receiving aid from Human First Coalition, according to Plitsas. Most of the 200 still remain there.

Prior to Aug. 31, Human First Coalition helped 6,000 people leave Afghanistan and provided housing for 10,000 people, he said. However, in the same period, the group received 30,000 requests for support.

Since the U.S. military left Afghanistan, the organization has been working to protect thousands who remain in the country, which Plitsas said is “still stacked with risk.”

For Plitsas, this means regularly pulling 20-hour days as he balances relief efforts with his full-time job overseeing aerospace and defense for a consulting firm.

“We’re going to keep going until everybody gets out or we run out of money and people won’t help us,” he said.

Plitsas is also chairman of the Fairfield Republican Town Committee and is a candidate for Representative Town Meeting.

Human First Coalition has clearance from both the U.S. government and the Taliban to operate in Afghanistan, where the group provides food, water, shelter, transportation and medical care for high-risk people — including assisting with the delivery of seven babies. The organization is designed to offer resources that may not be available from the American government.

“We knew where the gaps were, given our previous government experience and work,” Plitsas said.

To donate to Human First Coalition, visit www.humanfirstcoalition.org/fundraising.