Major General Mohamed Zahir (Dhivehi: މުހައްމަދު ޒާހިރު) is the Chief of Staff of the Maldives National Defence Force of the Republic of Maldives. He assumed command as Chief of Staff of MNDF, formerly know as the National Security Service (NSS) on the November 11, 1996 as a Brigadier. He was promoted to the rank of Major General on April 21, 2004. He is also the chairman of the MNDF Advisory Council, the highest forum of senior serving officers. Major General Mohamed Zahir is also known to many Maldivians by the nickname, two two Zahir (22 Zahir). After completion of secondary education in 1972, Mohamed Zahir joined the civil service and worked in various Governments Departments before enlisting in the Maldives National Defence Force in 1978 to the rank of Sergeant and was commissioned as an officer two years later. Major General Mohamed Zahir is a graduate of Hendon Police College, London, UK and the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, United Sates. He also attended John F. Kennedy School of Government USA, in a program for Senior Excutives in National and International Security. During his past years of service, he has undertaken various command positions within different units of the MNDF. Before assuming the duties as the Chief of Staff of MNDF, he was also the Deputy Chief of Staff of MNDF. During this tenure, he played an integral role in conceptualizing and doctrinally developing the operational functioning of all the arms and services of the MNDF. He has also commanded the MNDF Defence Institute for Training and Education, formerly known as NSS Training Unit whereby laying the groundwork for restructure and streamlining overall training policies. For his gallant actions in the incidents of 1988, when a group of PLOTE mercenaries from Sri Lanka attacked the capital Malé, he was awarded the second highest gallantry award, the Medal for Exceptional Bravery. In addition, he is also decorated with the Presidential Medal, Distinguished Service Medal and the Dedicated Service Medal. Major General Mohamed Zahir is married to Fathimath Amira. She is the Principal of the Centre for Higher Secondary Education. The General has four sons and one daughter.
