Rashad Hussain Named U.S. Special Envoy for Counterterrorism

Rashad Hussain has been appointed U.S. special envoy and coordinator for strategic counterterrorism communications, the U.S. State Department announced Feb. 18.

The Indian American will lead a staff comprised of a number of U.S. departments and agencies to “expand international engagement and partnerships to counter violent extremism and to develop strategic counterterrorism communications around the world,” the State Department said.

Hussain will also serve as coordinator of the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications — established by President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to coordinate and inform strategic communications focused on violent extremists and terrorist organizations.

Since 2010, he has served as U.S. special envoy to the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, where he worked with the OIC and Muslim-majority countries to build U.S. partnerships with Muslim communities worldwide.

Hussain was previously deputy associate counsel to President Obama, focusing on national security, new media, and science and technology issues. He also was director for global engagement at the National Security Council and special assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., where he prosecuted criminal cases.

In 2009, Hussain worked with the National Security Council to develop the “New Beginning” President Obama outlined in a speech in Cairo, Egypt.

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