List of Arab Americans

This is a list of Arab Americans. It includes prominent Arab American individuals from various fields, such as business, science, entertainment, sports and fine arts.

Academia

Science

• Elias J. Corey, organic chemistry professor at Harvard University, winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Chemistry^[1] (Lebanese parents)
• Ahmed Zewail, Egyptian-American scientist, known as the "father of femtochemistry", winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Michael E. DeBakey, Lebanese-American cardiovascular surgeon and researcher,^[2] 1963 Lasker Award laureate
• Omar M. Yaghi, Jordanian-American reticular chemistry pioneer; winner of the 2018 Wolf Prize in Chemistry
• Mostafa El-Sayed, Egyptian-American US National Medal of Science laureate; nanoscience researcher; known for the spectroscopy rule named after him, the El-Sayed rule
• Farouk El-Baz Egyptian-American space scientist who worked with NASA to assist in the planning of scientific exploration of the Moon
• Huda Zoghbi, Lebanese-American physician and medical researcher who discovered the genetic cause of the Rett syndrome
• Huda Akil, Syrian-American neuroscientist and medical researcher
• Yasmine Belkaid, Algerian-American immunologist, professor and a senior investigator at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Mounir Laroussi, Tunisian-American plasma physicist, pioneer of plasma medicine
• Hunein Maassab, Syrian-American professor of epidemiology and the inventor of the live attenuated influenza vaccine
• Joanne Chory, plant biologist and geneticist (Lebanese)
• Anthony Atala, Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (Lebanese)
• Noureddine Melikechi, Algerian-American Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physicist, member of the Mars Science Laboratory
• Michel T. Halbouty, Lebanese-American geologist and geophysicist; pioneer in oil field research
• Adah al-Mutairi (Saudi Arabian), inventor and scholar in nanotechnology and nanomedicine
• M. Amin Arnaout, Lebanese-American nephrologist and biologist
• Essam Heggy, Egyptian-American Planetary scientist
• Shadia Habbal, Syrian-American astronomer and physicist specialized in Space physics
• Miriam Merad, Algerian-American immunologist

Engineering/Computer Science

• Mohamed Atalla, engineer, inventor of MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor), pioneer in silicon semiconductors and security systems, founder of Atalla Corporation^[3]
• Charles Elachi, Lebanese-American professor of electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech and the former director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Fawwaz T. Ulaby Syrian-American professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, former Vice President of Research for the University of Michigan; first Arab-American winner of the IEEE Edison Medal
• Taher ElGamal, Egyptian-American cryptographer, inventor of the ElGamal discrete log cryptosystem and the ElGamal signature scheme
• Ali H. Nayfeh, Palestinian-American mechanical engineer, the 2014 recipient of Benjamin Franklin Medal in mechanical engineering
• Dina Katabi, Syrian-American Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and the director of the MIT Wireless Center.
• Abbas El Gamal, Egyptian-American electrical engineer, educator and entrepreneur, the recipient of the 2012 Claude E. Shannon Award
• John Makhoul, Lebanese-American computer scientist who works in the field of speech and language processing.
• Jerrier A. Haddad, computer engineer who worked with IBM.
• Oussama Khatib, roboticist and a professor of computer science
• Elias Zerhouni, former director of the National Institutes of Health (Algerian)
• Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah, Lebanese-American technology innovator.^[4][5] He received 43 patents.
• Mohammad S. Obaidat (Jordanian), computer science/engineering academic and scholar
• Charbel Farhat, Vivian Church Hoff Professor of Aircraft Structures; Director of the Army High Performance Computing Research Center; Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University (Lebanese)
• Hany Farid, Professor of computer science at Dartmouth College, pioneer in Digital forensics (Egyptian)
• Ahmed Tewfik, Egyptian-American electrical engineer, Professor and college administrator
• Munther A. Dahleh, Professor and Director at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Palestinian)

Humanities

• Ismail al-Faruqi, philosopher, professor
• Fouad Ajami, Professor of International Relations
• Saddeka Arebi, professor of anthropology at UC Berkeley
• Mohammed Adam El-Sheikh, executive director of the Fiqh Council of North America^[6] (Sudanese)
• Samih Farsoun, sociology professor at the American University^[7]
• Philip Khuri Hitti, historian of Arab culture and history (Lebanese)
• Philip S. Khoury, Ford International Professor of History and Associate Provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Lebanese)
• Laura Nader, cultural anthropologist
• Edward Said, Palestinian-American literary theorist and former professor at Columbia University
• Ahmed Ismail Samatar, writer, professor and former dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College; Somali ancestry
• Nada Shabout, Professor of Art History at University of North Texas
• Naseer Aruri, Chancellor Professor of Political Science at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
• Nadia Abu El Haj, Author & Professor of Anthropology at Barnard College and subject of a major tenure controversy case at Columbia University
• Ibrahim Abu-Lughod, former Director of Graduate Studies at Northwestern University, father of Lila Abu-Lughod
• Lila Abu-Lughod, professor of Anthropology and Women's and Gender Studies at Columbia University
• Leila Farsakh, Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston
• Samih Farsoun, Professor of sociology at American University and editor of Arab Studies Quarterly
• Nadia Hijab, Journalist with Middle East Magazine and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies
• Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University
• Joseph Massad, Professor at Columbia University known for his work on nationalism and sexuality in the Arab world
• Hisham Sharabi Professor Emeritus of History and Umar al-Mukhtar Chair of Arab Culture at Georgetown University
• Rosemarie Said Zahlan, historian, journalist & author, sister of Edward Said
• Steven Salaita, former Professor of English at Virginia Tech, winner of Myers Outstanding Book Award for the Study of Human Rights 2007
• Majid Khadduri, academic and founder of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies Middle East Studies program
• Thomas L. Saaty, Assyrian-Iraqi University Professor at the University of Pittsburgh
• Nada Shabout, art historian and Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas^{[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}
• Ella Shohat, professor, author and activist
• Saadi Simawe, translator, novelist and teacher
• Donny George Youkhanna, Iraqi archaeologist, anthropologist, author, curator, and scholar, and a visiting professor at Stony Brook University in New York
• Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, teaches religion, science, and freedom at the University of Maryland, College Park; directs the Minaret of Freedom Institute^[15][16]
• Muhsin Mahdi, Iraqi-American Islamologist and Arabist.
• Talal Asad, anthropologist at the CUNY Graduate Center.

University Presidents

• Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University (Syrian)
• Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami (Lebanese)
• Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern University (Lebanese)
• Robert Khayat, chancellor of the University of Mississippi (Lebanese)
• Nido Qubein, president of High Point University
• David Adamany, former president of the Temple University (Lebanese)

Business

• Steve Jobs, head and co-founder of Apple, (Syrian biological father^[17][18]
• Tony Fadell, product development manager at Apple Inc., co-inventor of iPod and iPhone
• Mohamed A. El-Erian, CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO (Egyptian)
• Alec Gores, founder of Gores Group; on the Forbes list of billionaires (Palestinian-born of Lebanese descent)
• Tom Gores, founder and CEO of Platinum Equity; on the Forbes list of billionaires (Palestinian-born of Lebanese descent)
• Sam Gores, founder of talent agency Paradigm Agency; on the Forbes list of billionaires^[19] (Palestinian-born of Lebanese descent)
• Najeeb Halaby, former head of Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of Pan-American Airlines, and father of Queen Noor of Jordan (Syrian father)^[20]
• Ray R. Irani, Chairman and CEO of Occidental Petroleum (Palestinian)
• Joseph Jacobs, founder of Jacobs Engineering, one of the engineering firms in the US (Lebanese)
• Charif Souki, co-founder and former CEO of Cheniere Energy.
• Amin Khoury, businessman and founder of B/E Aerospace
• Omar Hamoui, founder and CEO of Google AdMob (Syrian)
• Lucie Salhany, former Chairwoman of Fox Broadcasting Company.
• Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World, Good Sam Enterprises and Gander Outdoors.
• George Joseph, founder of Mercury Insurance Group.
• Joe Jamail, businessman who was the wealthiest practicing attorney in America.
• Allen Adham, co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment.
• Mario Kassar, formerly headed Carolco Pictures^[21] (Lebanese)
• John J. Mack, CEO of investment bank Morgan Stanley (Lebanese parents)^[22]
• Maloof family, Lebanese family who owns numerous business properties in the Western United States, majority owners of the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Hotel in Paradise, Nevada
• Sam Moore, founder and president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest worldwide distributor of the Bible
• Manuel Moroun, owner of CenTra, Inc., the holding company which controls the Ambassador Bridge and Michigan Central Depot
• Jacques Nasser, former president and CEO of Ford Motor Company (Lebanese)
• Moose Scheib, founder and CEO of Loanmod.com; inventor of the modern day loan modification
• Farouk Shami, founder of Farouk systems, a Houston-based company that manufactures hair care and spa products like CHI hair Irons (Palestinian)
• John Zogby (Lebanese), founder and current President/CEO of Zogby International
• Sam Yagan (born 1977), American entrepreneur and business executive, co-founder of SparkNotes, eDonkey, OkCupid, and Techstars Chicago, also CEO of Match Group, including Tinder (Syrian)
• Rana el Kaliouby (1978–present), Egyptian-born American computer scientist, CEO of Affectiva, Researcher at MIT Media Lab, contributor to facial expression recognition research and technology development
• Huda Kattan, CEO of Huda Beauty
• Magid Abraham, market research expert and businessman
• Nahim Abraham, businessman, philanthropist
• Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko's^[23]
• Richard E. Rainwater, investor and fund manager
• Robert Khuzami, former director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., businessman and founder of Colony Capital

Arts and entertainment

• Sam Esmail, screenwriter, director and producer; creator of the television series Mr. Robot (Egyptian)
• Kevin Hanna, writer, director and producer; creator of the film The Clockwork Girl (Syrian)
• Callie Khouri, Academy Award-winning screenwriter (Lebanese father)
• William Peter Blatty, Academy Award-winning screenwriter and writer (Lebanese)
• Nessa Diab, Radio and TV personality and television host (Egyptian parents)
• Sanaa Hamri, music video and movie director; her films include the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Moroccan)
• Moustapha Akkad, Syrian-American film producer and director
• Casey Kasem, radio personality and voice actor, co-founder of American Top 40 franchise,^[24] (Lebanese Druze descent)
• George Noory, radio broadcaster of late-night paranormal-themed radio talk show Coast to Coast AM, Lebanese^[25]
• Mario Kassar, film producer, founder of Carolco Pictures, (Lebanese descent)
• Jordan Nassar, visual artist working with Palestinian embroidery (Palestinian father)
• Tom Shadyac, director, screenwriter and producer, (Lebanese descent)
• Tony Thomas, producer, (Lebanese descent)
• Jehane Noujaim, documentary film director, (Egyptian)^[26]
• Kerri Kasem, radio personality, (Lebanese descent)
• Dan Jbara, television and film producer, (Lebanese father)
• Diane Rehm, host and executive producer of The Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio, (Syrian-Lebanese descent)
• Elie Samaha, film producer, (Lebanese)
• Sonya Tayeh, award-winning dancer and choreographer.
• Emile Kuri, Academy Award-winning art director, (Lebanese descent)
• Zaida Ben-Yusuf, portrait photographer (Algerian)
• Sam Maloof, (Lebanese parents)
• Rima Fakih, Miss USA 2010, (Lebanese)
• Remi Kanazi, performance poet, Palestinian descent^[27]
• Abdisalam Aato, film director, producer, entrepreneur, and media consultant (Somali)
• Mia Khalifa, pornographic artist (Lebanese)
• Yousef Abu-Taleb, actor, lonelygirl15; film producer (Jordanian)
• Adam Saleh, YouTuber and singer (Yemeni)
• Cherien Dabis, film director (Palestinian)
• Yousef Erakat, YouTuber and actor (Palestinian)
• Gabbie Hanna, Comedian, Actress, YouTube Personality, Singer. Lebanese Descent

Actors

• F. Murray Abraham, Academy Award-winning actor for his role in Amadeus, father was an Assyrian from Syria
• Tony Shalhoub, three-time Emmy Award-winning television actor on Monk, Lebanese^[28]
• Danny Thomas, Emmy Award-winning actor, founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; father of Marlo Thomas (Lebanese parents)^[29]
• Marlo Thomas, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress, (father of Lebanese descent)
• Rami Malek, Emmy Award and Academy Award - winning actor, (Egyptian descent)
• Demián Bichir, Academy Award-nominated actor, Lebanese descent
• Vic Tayback, two-time Golden Globe-winning actor, (Syrian parents)
• Kristy McNichol, two-time Emmy Award-winning actress,^[30] maternal grandfather was of Lebanese descent
• Tige Andrews, Emmy-nominated actor, Syrian-American
• Michael Ansara, actor (Lebanese)
• Sofia Boutella, actress and Hip-hop dancer. (Algerian)
• George Nader, American film and television actor.
• Jenna Dewan, film/TV actress (Step Up); paternal grandfather was of Lebanese descent^[31]
• Shannon Elizabeth, film actress (American Pie, Scary Movie),^[32] (father is of Lebanese and Syrian ancestry)
• Khrystyne Haje, actress on Head of the Class, Lebanese descent
• Teri Hatcher, actress, maternal grandfather was of Syrian ancestry
• Salma Hayek, Mexican actress (paternal grandfather was Lebanese)
• Rowan Blanchard, actress (paternal grandfather was Syrian)
• Anissa Jones, actress, Family Affair (maternal Lebanese grandparents)
• Jamie Farr, character actor, Lebanese^[33]
• Catherine Keener, actress, Lebanese ancestry on mother's side
• Wendie Malick, actress, Egyptian paternal grandfather
• Alanna Masterson, actress, half Lebanese
• Wentworth Miller, actor on Prison Break, Lebanese-Syrian from maternal great-grandmother^[34]
• Najee Mondalek, actor/playwright, Lebanese descent
• Kathy Najimy, actress, Lebanese descent^[35]
• Gregory Jbara, television and film actor
• Alia Shawkat, actress on Arrested Development, Iraqi father
• James Stacy, actor, father is of Lebanese descent
• Paola Turbay, actress, father is of Lebanese descent
• Vince Vaughn, actor (paternal grandmother was of Lebanese descent)
• Amy Yasbeck, actress, father was of Lebanese ancestry
• Sammy Sheik, actor, Egyptians parents
• Omar Metwally, actor, Egyptian father
• Waleed Zuaiter, actor; Palestinian parents
• Mo Gallini, actor; Lebanese parents
• Michael Nouri, actor; Iraqi father
• Haaz Sleiman, Lebanese-American television and film actor
• Emeraude Toubia, actress (Lebanese father)
• Edy Ganem, actress (Lebanese descent)
• Nadia Dajani, actress (Palestinian father)
• Rose Abdoo, comedian, actress (Lebanese)
• John Kassir, American actor, voice actor and comedian.

Comedians

• Brian Awadis, Youtuber and actor, (Iraqi parents)
• Jerry Seinfeld, stand-up comedian, actor and writer,(Syrian mother)
• Dean Obeidallah, stand-up comedian, writer, (Palestinian father)
• Ahmed Ahmed, actor and comedian, (Egyptian)
• Mohammed Amer, comedian, writer, actor; Rolling Stone, Al Barnameg, Allah Made Me Funny (Palestinian parents, born in Kuwait),
• Remy Munasifi, comedian also known as GoRemy (Iraqi father/Lebanese mother)
• Anwar Jibawi, YouTuber and comedian (Palestinian)
• Ronnie Khalil, stand-up comedian (Egyptian)
• Aron Kader, stand-up comedian, (Palestinian father)
• Maysoon Zayid, actress and comedian (Palestinian)
• Ray Hanania, journalist and stand-up comedian (Palestinian)
• Kassem G, comedian, actor, and YouTuber (Jordanian)

Reality show

• Farrah Abraham, reality television personality, participated in 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. (Syrian father)
• Tareq Salahi, television personality, appeared on The Real Housewives of D.C.. (Palestinian father)
• Adrienne Maloof, businesswoman, television personality, cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. (Lebanese father)
• Aja (entertainer), known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race. (Egyptian and Moroccan)
• Laith Al-Saadi, finalist on the 10th season of the The Voice (Iraqi father)

Fashion designers

• Joseph Abboud, menswear fashion designer and author^[36] (Lebanese descent)
• Reem Acra, Lebanese fashion designer
• Norma Kamali, fashion designer (Lebanese descent)
• Rami Kashou, fashion designer ( Palestinian descent)

Models

• Gigi Hadid, supermodel and TV personality, (Palestinian father)
• Bella Hadid, supermodel and TV personality, (Palestinian father)
• Iman, fashion model and actress, (Somali ancestry)
• Touriya Haoud, fashion model and actress, (Moroccan father)
• Jawahir Ahmed, fashion model, (Somali-American)
• Wafah Dufour, fashion model and singer (Saudi Arabian father)
• Jaclyn Stapp, beauty queen and fashion model (Jordanian)
• Amy Fadhli, fitness model, actress and winner of the Fitness America National Champion 1996, (Iraqi father)
• Halima Aden, fashion model, (Somali-American)

Musicians

• Paula Abdul, singer, musician, writer, actress, and television personality of partial Arab descent (Syrian-American)
• Paul Anka, singer/songwriter (Syrian Lebanese)
• Frank Zappa, musician, part Lebanese father^[37] (Part Lebanese)
• DJ Khaled (Palestinian), hip-hop DJ, rapper, music producer
• RedOne producer, songwriter, music executive (Moroccan)
• Tiffany, born Tiffany Renee Darwish, singer, father is of Lebanese descent
• Tiny Tim (born Herbert Khaury), musician, Lebanese father^[38]
• French Montana, New York rapper (Moroccan)
• Paul Jabara, actor, singer, songwriter, Lebanese ancestry
• Dick Dale, surf rock guitarist, father was of Lebanese descent^[39]
• Andrew Bazzi, singer-songwriter, Lebanese-American
• Soraya, singer/songwriter, mother is part Lebanese
• G.E. Smith, lead guitarist in the band Hall & Oates; musical director of Saturday Night Live
• David Yazbek, songwriter and musician, half Lebanese
• Raef Haggag singer (Egyptian)
• Stephan Said, singer, musician, writer and activist, Iraqi descent
• Kareem Salama, country singer-songwriter and musician, Egyptian-American
• Alissa Musto, singer/pianist, of partial Arab descent
• Kurtis Mantronik, born Kurtis el Khaleel, remixer and producer, founding member of 1980s old school hip hop group Mantronix, Syrian father
• Malek Jandali, composer and pianist (Syrian-American)
• Ferras, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter (Jordanian)
• Fredwreck hip hop producer (Palestinian)
• Mohammed Fairouz, musician, composer (Arab)
• Emilio Estefan, Cuban-born, manager and producer of wife Gloria Estefan, Lebanese ancestry
• Ayad Al Adhamy, synthesizer player and multi-instrumentalist musician, born in Bahrain
• Ferras Alqaisi, singer-songwriter, Jordanian-American
• Jeff Becerra, death metal musician, Arab Mexican origin
• Ron Affif, jazz guitarist and musician
• Jack Barakat All Time Low guitarist/songwriter (Lebanese parents)
• Queen Naija, singer and songwriter, Yemeni, Italian, and African American ancestry

Literature

• Khalil Gibran, writer, poet, and member of the New York Pen League; the third-best-selling poet of all time. (Lebanese)
• William Peter Blatty, American writer best known for his 1971 horror novel The Exorcist (Lebanese)
• Laila Lalami, Pulitzer Prize-nominated novelist, journalist, essayist, and professor. (Moroccan)
• Mikhail Naimy, member of the New York Pen League; well-known works include The Book of Mirdad and a biography of Khalil Gibran. (Lebanese)
• Ameen Rihani, "father of Arab American literature," member of the New York Pen League and author of The Book of Khalid, the first Arab American novel in English;
• Edward Said, literary theorist, thinker, and the founder of the academic field of postcolonial studies. (Palestinian)
• Stephen Adly Guirgis, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. (Egyptian father)
• Hisham Matar, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. (Lybian)
• Steven Naifeh, Pulitzer Prize-winning author. (Lebanese father)
• Raymond Khoury, screenwriter and novelist, best known as the author of the 2006 New York Times bestseller The Last Templar.(Lebanese)
• Saladin Ahmed, Eisner Award-winning comic book and fantasy writer. (Egyptian)
• Ted Naifeh, American comic book writer and artist.
• Stephen Karam, Tony Award-winning playwright and screenwriter.(Lebanese)
• Mona Simpson, American novelist; author of Anywhere but Here (Syrian father)
• Elmaz Abinader, poet, playwright, memoirist, writer (Lebanese)
• Diana Abu-Jaber, novelist and professor, author of Arabian Jazz and Crescent (Jordanian)
• Nasib Arida, poet and writer of the Mahjar movement. (Syrian)
• Abd al-Masih Haddad, writer of the Mahjar movement and journalist. (Syrian)
• Elia Abu Madi, poet, publisher and member of the New York Pen League (Lebanese)
• Etel Adnan, poet, essayist, and visual artist (Syrian father)
• Suheir Hammad, poet, playwright, artist, Tony Award winner.(Palestinian)
• Samuel John Hazo, State Poet of Pennsylvania
• Lawrence Joseph, poet
• Lisa Suhair Majaj, poet and literary scholar
• Khaled Mattawa, poet, recipient of an Academy of American Poets award
• Claire Messud, author, Algerian
• Naomi Shihab Nye, poet (Palestinian)
• Abraham Rihbany, writer on politics and religion. (Lebanese)
• Steven Salaita, expert on comparative literature and post-colonialism, writer, activist (Palestinian/Jordanian)
• Ibtisam Barakat, award-winning writer and poet; (Palestinian)
• Reem Kassis, writer on food, culture and politics (Palestinian)

Media and journalism

• Helen Thomas reporter, columnist, and White House correspondent (Lebanese descent)
• Hala Gorani journalist and anchor of CNN's International Desk; Levantine Cultural Center (Syrian)
• Anthony Shadid, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, foreign correspondent (Lebanese)
• Hoda Kotb broadcast journalist and TV host on Dateline NBC and the Today Show (Egyptian)
• Jim Avila, correspondent for ABC News "20/20", half Lebanese
• Jamal Dajani, television producer and Middle East analyst, Palestinian
• Paula Faris, television correspondent and personality, half Lebanese^[40]
• Ray Hanania, award-winning journalist; Managing Editor of The Arab Daily News; President and CEO of Urban Strategies Group media and political consultants
• Diane Rehm, American public radio talk show host
• Dena Takruri journalist, on-air presenter, and producer (Palestinian)
• Fawaz Gerges, ABC analyst and regular guest on "Oprah's Anti-war series" (Lebanese)
• Yasmeen Sami Alamiri, journalist, first member of the White House foreign press pool, (Iraqi)
• Susan Chira, journalist, former New York Times editor, foreign correspondent (Syrian)
• Lorraine Ali, reporter, editor, culture writer and music critic for Newsweek (Iraqi)
• Susie Gharib, co-anchor of the Nightly Business Report
• Walid Phares, Fox News correspondent, Middle Eastern policy advisor to the 2012 Mitt Romney presidential campaign and the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign (Lebanese)
• Paul Ajlouny, founder of the Palestinian newspaper Al-Fajr
• Daoud Kuttab, award-winning journalist; Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University (Palestinian)
• Nasser Weddady activist, Director of Civil Rights Outreach at American Islamic Congress (Mauritanian)
• Mona Eltahawy, freelance journalist. (Egyptian)
• Ayman Mohyeldin, journalist for NBC News (Egyptian)
• Serena Shim, journalist for Press TV (Lebanese)

Military

• John Abizaid, Lebanese^[41]
• Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, specialist in the United States Army who was kidnapped by insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 23, 2006
• Florent Groberg, mother of Algerian descent
• James Jabara, Lebanese
• George Joulwan, Lebanese
• Peter Mansoor, Palestinian Arab
• Michael A. Monsoor, first Arab American Medal of Honor awardee
• Ray Hanania, Vietnam Era Military Service, U.S. Air Force

Politics

• James Abdnor, U.S. Senator (R-South Dakota) (1981–1987)
• John Abizaid, retired general (Lebanese)
• James Abourezk, U.S. Senator (D-South Dakota) (1973–1979) (Lebanese ancestry)^[42]
• Spencer Abraham, U.S. Secretary of Energy (2001–2005) and U.S. Senator (R-Mich.) Secretary of Energy under Bush (1995–2001) (Lebanese ancestry)
• Justin Amash, U.S. Representative (R-Michigan) (2011–), Palestinian and Syrian descent
• Victor G. Atiyeh, former Governor of Oregon (R) (1979–1987) (Syrian)
• John Baldacci, Governor of Maine (D) (2003–2011) (Lebanese mother)
• Rosemary Barkett, U.S. Circuit Judge and the first woman Supreme Court Justice and Chief Justice for the state of Florida (Syrian)
• Charles Boustany,^[43] U.S. Representative from Louisiana; cousin of Victoria Reggie Kennedy^[44] (Lebanese)
• Pat Danner, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Mo.) (1993–2001)
• Brigitte Gabriel, pro-Israel activist and founder of the American Congress For Truth (immigrated from Lebanon)
• Philip Charles Habib, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Special Envoy to Ronald Reagan (Lebanese)
• Lisa Halaby (a.k.a. Queen Noor), Queen-consort of Jordan and wife of King Hussein of Jordan (father is of Syrian descent)
• Darrell Issa, U.S. Congressman (R-California) (2001–) (Lebanese father)
• Joe Jamail, Renown American trial lawyer and billionaire, also known as the "King of Torts" (Lebanese)
• James Jabara, colonel and Korean War flying ace (Lebanese)
• Chris John, U.S. Congressman (D-Louisiana) (1997–2005) (Lebanese ancestry)
• George Joulwan, retired general, former NATO commander-in-chief (Lebanese)
• George Kasem, U.S. Congressman (D-California) (1959-1961)^[45]
• Abraham Kazen, U.S. Congressman (D-Texas) (1967–1985) (Lebanese ancestry)
• Jill Kelley, global advocate and American socialite^[46] (Lebanese)
• Victoria Reggie Kennedy, attorney and widow of late Senator Ted Kennedy (Lebanese)
• Muna Khalif, fashion designer and MP in the Federal Parliament of Somalia (Somali)
• Johnny Khamis, Councilmember from San Jose (Lebanese)
• Ray LaHood, U.S. Congressman (R-Illinois) (1995–2009), U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2009–2013) (Lebanese and Jordanian ancestry)
• Darin LaHood, U.S. Congressman (R-Illinois) (2015–), son of Ray Lahood
• George J. Mitchell, U.S. Senator (D-Maine) (1980–1995) United States of America special envoy to the Middle East under the Obama administration, U.S. senator from Maine, Senate Majority Leader (Lebanese mother)
• Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President and former prime minister of Somalia (Somali descent)
• Ralph Nader, politician and consumer advocate, author, lecturer, and attorney, candidate for US Presidency
• Jimmy Naifeh, Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives (D) (Lebanese ancestry)
• Mary Rose Oakar, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Ohio) (1977–1993)
• Abdisalam Omer, Foreign Minister of Somalia (Somali descent)
• Ilhan Omar U.S. Congresswoman (D-Minnesota) she is one of the first two Muslim women elected to the United States Congress (Somali descent)
• Jeanine Pirro, former Westchester County District Attorney and New York Republican attorney general candidate (Lebanese parents)
• Dina Powell, current U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy (Egyptian)
• Edward Rafeedie, U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California (Palestinian)
• Nick Rahall, U.S. Congressman (D-West Virginia) (1977–2015) (Lebanese ancestry)
• Selwa Roosevelt (Lebanese), former Chief of Protocol of the United States and wife of the late Archibald Bulloch Roosevelt, Jr., grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt
• Zainab Salbi, co-founder and president of Women for Women International (Iraqi)
• Donna Shalala, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (1993–2001) (Lebanese parents)
• Chris Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire (R) (2017–), son of Governor John H. Sununu
• John E. Sununu, U.S. Senator (R-New Hampshire) (2003–2009) (father is of Lebanese and Palestinian ancestry)
• John H. Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire (R) (1983–1989) and Chief of Staff to George H.W. Bush (Lebanese and Palestinian ancestry)
• Rashida Tlaib, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Michigan)(2016-) (Palestinian parents)
• James Zogby (Lebanese), founder and president of the Arab American Institute
• Hady Amr diplomat, founding director of Brookings Doha Center (Lebanese father)

Sports

• Alaa Abdelnaby, played for Duke and five years in the NBA (Egyptian descent)
• Rony Seikaly, former NBA player, now DJ (Lebanese descent)
• Abdel Nader, player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (Egyptian descent).
• Salah Mejri, Tunisian professional basketball for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association.
• Justin Abdelkader, ice hockey forward playing in NHL
• Brandon Saad, NHL player (Syrian)
• Patrick Maroon, ice hockey player for the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL (Lebanese)
• Johnny Manziel – NFL player (Lebanese father)
• Oday Aboushi, NFL player (Palestinian descent)
• Doug Flutie, NFL player (Lebanese father)
• Drew Haddad, NFL player (Jordanian)
• Gibran Hamdan, NFL QB (Palestinian and Pakistani descent)
• Bill George, NFL player and Hall of Fame.
• Jeff George, NFL quarterback (Lebanese descent)
• Rich Kotite, retired NFL tight end; NFL Head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets
• Abe Mickal – football player for LSU
• Matt Kalil – NFL player (Lebanese father)
• Ryan Kalil – NFL player (Lebanese father)
• Frank Kalil – former American football offensive lineman.
• Carl Nassib, defensive end for the Cleveland Browns
• Ryan Nassib, backup quarterback for the New York Giants
• Adam Shaheen, tight end from Ashland
• Joe Robbie, former owner and founder of the NFL's Miami Dolphins
• Rocco Baldelli professional baseball player (Syrian)
• John Jaha, MLB baseball player (Lebanese)
• Sam Khalifa, MLB baseball player (Egyptian)
• Joe Lahoud, MLB player for Boston an California (Lebanese descent)
• Mikie Mahtook, Major League Baseball outfielder (Lebanese descent)
• Damien Sandow, WWE wrestler (Lebanese)
• Sabu ECW wrestler (Lebanese mother)
• Skandor Akbar former professional wrestler (Lebanese)
• Ed Farhat Lebanese-American professional wrestler best known by his ring name The Sheik
• Adnan Al-Kaissie former professional wrestler and manager (Iraqi)
• Armando Estrada professional wrestler and manager ( Palestinian)
• Mojo Rawley professional wrestler currently signed to WWE ( Palestinian and Syrian)
• Dina Al-Sabah, professional figure competitor (Kuwaiti descent)
• Sarah Attar track and field athlete (Saudi Arabian father)
• Isra Girgrah, boxer
• Naseem Hamed, commonly known as Prince Naseem or Naz, former boxer, former featherweight world champion. (Yemni parents)
• Jim Harrick, UCLA coach
• Omar Hassan, pro skateboarder^[47]
• Ahmed Kaddour professional boxer, from NBC show The Contender (Lebanese)
• Hocine Khalfi, professional boxer, Algerian-American
• Khalid Khannouchi, athlete marathon runner (Moroccan)
• Amir Khillah, mixed martial artist and The Ultimate Fighter contestant (Egyptian)
• Gavin Maloof, businessman and owner of the Sacramento Kings
• George Maloof, Sr. businessman and former owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets
• Justin Meram, MLS player for Columbus Crew (Chaldo-Assaryian)
• Faryd Mondragón, MLS player for Philadelphia Union (Lebanese parents)
• Ramsey Nijem (Palestinian), mixed martial artist and UFC fighter
• Bobby Rahal (Lebanese ancestry)
• Soony Saad, MLS player (Lebanese descent)
• Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (Lebanese Mother).
• Tarick Salmaci, professional boxer (Lebanese)
• Omar Sheika (Palestinian), professional boxer, four-time world title challenger
• Kelly Slater, professional surfer (Lebanese descent)

Others

• Naser Jason Abdo, former soldier convicted of planning an attack near Fort Hood
• Sami Al-Arian, professor guilty of conspiracy to contribute services to or for the benefit of a Specially Designated Terrorist organization (Palestinian)
• Anwar al-Awlaki, believed by US officials to be a recruiter involved in planning terrorist operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda (Yemeni)
• Nihad Awad, founding Executive Director of largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) (Palestinian)
• Rosemary Barkett, federal judge and first woman Justice and Chief Justice on the Florida Supreme Court (Syrian)
• Charles Bishop, suicide by plane crash in Tampa, Florida; grandson of Syrian immigrant^[48][49]
• Nidal Malik Hasan, former soldier convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting (Palestinian descent)
• Hussein Ibish, writer, journalist, advocate for Arab causes in the United States (Lebanese)
• Ali Hassan Abu Kama, gunman in 1997 Empire State Building shooting (Palestinian)
• Candice Lightner, founder of MADD (Lebanese mother)^[50]
• Edward L. Masry, lawyer (Lebanese descent)
• Rasmea Odeh, convicted of immigration fraud, for concealing her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for fatal terrorist bombing (Palestinian)^[51][52]
• Walid Rabah, publisher
• Saint Raphael of Brooklyn, first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated in North America; born Raphael Hawaweeny in Beirut of Damascene Syrian parents
• Karim Rashid (Lebanese descent)
• Zainab Salbi, co-founder and president of Women for Women International (Iraqi)
• Sirhan Sirhan, convicted murderer of Robert F. Kennedy (Palestinian with Jordanian citizenship)
• Nadya Suleman, "Octomom", father is Iraqi
• James Zogby, Arab-American civil rights activist (Arab-American Institute); brother of John (Lebanese descent)
• John Zogby, pollster for Zogby International (Lebanese descent)

See also

• List of Iraqi Americans
• List of Lebanese Americans
• List of Palestinian Americans
• Yemeni-American

References

External links

• I Want My Son to be Proud by Casey Kasem
• Famous Arab Americans
• Children of Al-Mahjar: Arab American Literature Spans a Century – by Elmaz Abinader