Tzovaras Receives Purple Heart for Afghanistan Service

Albany Law School student Aristeas Tzovaras was awarded the Purple Heart at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor on Aug. 10, 2014, for his service in Afghanistan.

Tzovaras organized and coordinated efforts to promote U.S. international policies and programs by arranging “shuras” — conferences — with local Afghan leaders to discuss and resolve issues impacting the region. He also identified and coordinated programs to improve the interaction between government leaders and local citizens to decrease mistrust and resolve issues that had led to instability. He built relations with Afghan Security Force personnel to enhance information sharing, and advised U.S. governmental agencies such as the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development on conditions in the area.

His Purple Heart was awarded for his work in July 2012 when he was thrown from an IED (improvised explosive device) explosion while clearing an area. The Capital Region resident plans to graduate Albany Law in 2017.