Nancy A. Youssef is a staff writer at The Atlantic covering national security and the Defense Department. She has written about U.S. national security for more than two decades, including at The Wall Street Journal and McClatchy Newspapers. She has been a foreign correspondent based in Iraq and Egypt and has reported across the Middle East.

Youssef is recognized for her coverage of international conflicts and military operations, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her awards include:

* John S. Knight Fellowship for Professional Journalists (2007-2008)
* Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for excellence in journalism (2010)

Born to Egyptian parents, Youssef is a first-generation native of the Washington, D.C. area. She speaks fluent Arabic. Youssef is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. She went on to study at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Youssef has a master’s degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.