Rashad Hussain is an American attorney, diplomat, and professor renowned for his contributions to U.S. foreign policy, particularly in areas of international religious freedom, counterterrorism, and Muslim engagement. Born on January 1, 1978, in the United States to Pakistani immigrant parents, Hussain grew up in Cary, North Carolina, where he developed an early interest in public service and law. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from North Carolina State University in 2000 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 2003. Following his education, Hussain began his career in the U.S. Department of Justice as a trial attorney and prosecutor, focusing on criminal and national security cases, which laid the foundation for his expertise in legal and security matters.

Hussain's government service escalated during the Obama administration, where he served as Associate White House Counsel and a member of the National Security Council, advising on Muslim engagement and countering violent extremism. He was appointed U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2010, becoming the youngest person to hold that position, and later served as U.S. Special Envoy for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications. In these roles, he worked to foster dialogue between the U.S. and Muslim-majority nations, promoting tolerance and countering extremist narratives. Under the Biden administration, Hussain was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, a position he continues to hold, advocating globally for religious minorities and against persecution.

Beyond government, Hussain has been a professor at Georgetown University and has engaged in academic and nonprofit work on interfaith relations and human rights. His career reflects a commitment to bridging cultural divides and advancing U.S. interests through diplomacy and legal expertise, with no major public controversies noted in his professional record.