Bonita Chamberlin

Spent more than 30 years, under 5 regimes: the monarchy/pre-Soviet invasion, the Soviet occupation, the civil war, the Taliban and now the Coalition Forces, working in Afghanistan. From 1976 to 1980, she interfaced with the Afghan government and multinational corporations, especially SunMaid and Lummus to facilitate business and economic development. As a result of this extensive work, Bonita has walked the country, mapping it, thereby being a resource for the Department of Defense after 9/11. Her research was published in the 1995 book she co-authored, titled, Gemstones of Afghanistan, regarded as the original and most complete study of Afghanistan’s gems and minerals.