Nancy Youssef

Nancy A. Youssef is an American journalist currently working as a national security correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. She was previously a national security correspondent for The Daily Beast, Buzzfeed News, and McClatchy Newspapers.

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.

Youssef began her career in journalism at the Baltimore Sun.

She then moved on to work for the Detroit Free Press, where she covered legal issues. At the Detroit Free Press, Youssef reported on the Iraq war for the media conglomerate, Knight Ridder. She traveled throughout Jordan and Iraq from the start of conflict through the post-war period.

In August 2005, Youssef joined the Washington Bureau at McClatchy. She spent four years covering the Iraq war and served as chief of the Baghdad bureau. Her work focused on the Iraqi citizens, centering on how the U.S. military strategy was influencing the social and political dynamic. Her pieces reflected on the everyday life of the Iraqi people and coverage of civilian casualties.

After that, she served as McClatchy's chief Pentagon correspondent, continuing her coverage of both the conflict in Iraq and in Afghanistan, traveling overseas to report on the latest developments. Youssef also served as president of the Pentagon Press Association.

As Middle East bureau chief for McClatchy, Youssef covered the events of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.

Until recently, she served as senior national security correspondent for The Daily Beast. In 2017, she joined BuzzFeed News on the same beat. She is currently National Security Chief with the Wall Street Journal. She also appeared on PBS's Washington Week.

Youssef has been honored several times for her journalistic accomplishments. She has been recognized by the following institutions:

• University of Virginia, Lawrence Hall Award for Distinguished Journalism
• Maryland-D.C. Delaware Press Association
• Society of Professional Journalists, Detroit chapter