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Wesam Hassanein is a Vice President at Continental Strategy and a senior national security and foreign policy professional with extensive experience advising Vice Presidential and Cabinet-level leadership on international security and diplomatic engagement. He most recently served as Special Advisor to the Vice President for the Middle East, where he led policy development for high-level diplomatic engagements and advised on regional security strategy.
Previously, Wesam served as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Department of State's Policy Planning Staff, overseeing a team of more than twenty professionals responsible for the Secretary of State's long-term strategic planning. He also held the role of Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, where he delivered policy recommendations on Middle East strategy, counterterrorism, cyber policy, and emerging technologies.
Earlier in his career, Wesam was the State Department's lead expert on U.S.-UAE Gulf relations, coordinating interagency policy across the National Security Council, Department of Defense, Department of Treasury, and Congress. A native Arabic speaker, he brings deep regional expertise and firsthand experience engaging foreign governments and senior policymakers.
Wesam's writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, New York Daily News, The National Interest, and The Cipher Brief. He is a recipient of multiple Department of State Honor Awards. In his free time, Wesam enjoys watching international soccer.
Accolades
Special Advisor to the Vice President for the Middle East, leading policy development for high-level diplomatic engagements
Chief of Staff to the U.S. Department of State's Policy Planning Staff, overseeing long-term strategic planning for the Secretary of State
State Department lead expert on U.S.-UAE Gulf relations, coordinating interagency policy across the NSC, DOD, Treasury, and Congress
Recipient of multiple Department of State Honor Awards
Education
American University, M.A., International Affairs
Lebanon Valley College, B.A., Political Science
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