The Rumi Forum presented "Cairo and Beyond: How New Partnerships Strengthen U.S. Engagement with Muslim Communities Around the World" with Rashad Hussain, Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)

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On February 13th President Obama appointed Rashad Hussain, a trusted White House advisor, as Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). In his announcement the President tasked Special Envoy Hussain to deepen and expand the partnerships outlined in his Cairo speech one year ago. Mr. Hussain will discuss how the President’s vision for Global Engagement has shaped relations with the OIC and its member-states and U.S. outline efforts to deliver on the commitments made in Cairo and beyond.

President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Rashad Hussain as Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on February 13th, 2010.

As Special Envoy, Mr. Hussain serves as the U.S. Envoy to the OIC, and seeks to deepen and expand the partnerships that the United States has pursued with Muslims around the world.

Mr. Hussain has also served as Deputy Associate Counsel to President Obama, focusing on national security, new media, and science and technology issues. Mr. Hussain worked with the National Security Staff in developing and pursuing the New Beginning that President Obama outlined in his June 2009 address in Cairo, Egypt. Before joining the White House, Mr. Hussain was a member of the legal staff for the Presidential Transition Team. Mr. Hussain previously served as a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hussain was a legislative assistant on the House Judiciary Committee, where he focused on national security-related issues.

Mr. Hussain received his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Upon graduation, he served as a Law Clerk to Damon J. Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals. Mr. Hussain also earned his Master’s degrees in Public Administration (Kennedy School of Government) and Arabic and Islamic Studies from Harvard University. He attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His academic writings have focused on national security, constitutional law, and civil liberties.

Mr. Hussain is married and has one child.

Moderator: Ambassador David Mack is a Scholar of The Middle East Institute, a Washington-based educational organization. He is also Chairman of the US-Libya Business Association and a member of the board of the Middle East Policy Council. From 1998 until 2008, Mack was Vice President and Acting President of MEI. As a private consultant from 1995 until 1998, Mack provided policy guidance to foreign governments and companies in regard to their dealings in the United States and advised US corporate clients on trade and investment opportunities in the Middle East. For over thirty years, David Mack served in various positions in the US Foreign Service. From 1990-1993, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. In that capacity, Mack directed the conduct of relations between the United States and 12 other governments, including Iran, Iraq, the states of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. He provided political support for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and promoted US business interests in the Middle East. From 1986-1989, Mack was the US Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, where he was in charge of all US government activities and over 150 civilian and military personnel. In addition, Mack held diplomatic assignments in Iraq, Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.