Yado Yakub is a Syrian-American attorney, military officer, and strategic advisor, known for his extensive career in both the U.S. Marine Corps and international business. Currently, he is serving as a the founder of Y2 Global Advisory.
Yakub is married to Margaret Brennan, a prominent journalist and the moderator of CBS News’ Face the Nation. The couple has two children, Eamon and Malek, and shares a deep bond rooted in both personal and professional experiences.
Who is Yado Yakub?
Yado Yakub is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse career spanning military service, law, and strategic advisory. He served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he provided legal counsel on matters related to national security and defense.
His experience in the military laid the foundation for his later work in global advisory roles. After leaving active duty, Yakub founded Y2 Global Advisory. He works with both governmental and private sector clients.
Additionally, he holds a senior partner role at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he advises on global business strategy and operations. In his personal life, Yakub is deeply committed to public service and community engagement.
He participates in several initiatives aimed at fostering cross-cultural understanding and supporting marginalized communities. With a career that combines legal expertise, strategic insight, and a strong dedication to service, Yakub continues to influence both the public and private sectors.
Early Life and Family Background and Ethnicity
Yado Yakub full name Ali Iyad Yakub was born on July 23, 1978, in the United States of America. He is American by nationality.
His family has roots in the Middle East, and his ethnicity is Syrian-American. Yado was raised in a household that embraced different cultures and languages.
He grew up learning to speak Arabic, Spanish, English, and French, which reflects his diverse upbringing. Yado’s father is Dr. Nabil Y. Yakub, a highly respected nephrologist, a doctor who treats kidney problems. Dr. Nabil works at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia.
Yado’s mother, Rolana I. Yakub, worked as a preschool teacher at the Country Day School in McLean, Virginia. His parents were supportive and helped shape his strong values in education and service.
Yado has one sibling, a sister named Samia Yakub. She is a professional in the field of international development and works at USAID (United States Agency for International Development). Samia focuses on improving global systems of law and governance.
Yado Yakub Education
Yado Yakub began his education at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia. He was a bright student and showed interest in world issues and languages from a young age. His high school years helped him develop a strong passion for international topics.
After high school, he went to the University of Virginia. There, he studied International Relations. He learned about global politics, law, and how countries work together. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UVA.
Next, Yado studied law at the University of Miami School of Law in Florida. He worked hard and received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, which is required to become a lawyer in the U.S.
While in law school, he wrote a paper called The Islamic Roots of Democracy. The paper was later published, showing his deep interest in law, religion, and democracy. His education prepared him well for a career in law and public service.
Yado Yakub Age
Yado Yakub is 46 years old as of 2024 because he came into the world on July 23, 1978, in United States. According to his birthday, he falls under the Leo zodiac sign.
Yado Yakub Religion
Yado Yakub was raised in the Islamic faith. He comes from a Muslim family and has expressed interest in topics related to Islam and democracy through his academic work.
Professional Journey
Yado Yakub has built a successfull career spanning across military service, government affairs, business strategy, and international relations. He has a deep understanding of national security policy, geopolitical analysis, strategic communications, and public-private partnerships.
Early Career and Capitol Hill Experience
Yado’s career began on Capitol Hill, where he worked in various capacities across both chambers of the U.S. Congress. His primary focus was on foreign relations, defense, veterans’ affairs, and trade.
Yado collaborated with legislators to influence policy on national security and defense spending, while also shaping U.S. relations with other nations. This period provided him with valuable insight into the legislative process and the intricacies of policy formation.
Service in the United States Marine Corps
In 2007, Yado commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and served on active duty until 2015. His roles included Judge Advocate (military attorney), Congressional Liaison Officer, and Political-Military Officer for the Middle East, North Africa, and Western Europe.
During his time in the Marines, he advised military leadership on combat operations, rules of engagement, and international humanitarian law.
Yado also deployed to Iraq, where he worked on complex operations such as the release of detainees in compliance with the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. Additionally, he developed and executed training programs for military forces and allies on topics like detainee operations and the law of war.
Strategic and Government Advisory Roles
After leaving active duty, Yado transitioned to the private sector, where he used his expertise to guide multinational firms and governments. He worked as a Senior Strategic Advisor at SAS, a global leader in data analytics software.
In this role, Yado engaged with U.S. and foreign government officials, trade organizations, and NGOs to promote the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence across various sectors, including finance, security, health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
He also provided strategic advice to organizations on how to integrate emerging technologies to drive sustainable growth. Previously, Yado served at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a Senior Associate in Global Intelligence.
He advised multinational corporations on entering new markets while managing political and economic risks. Additionally, he helped foreign governments modernize their operations, particularly in defense and financial sectors, to improve efficiency and navigate complex regulatory environments.
Founding Y2 Global Advisory
In 2022, Yado founded Y2 Global Advisory, a consultancy that focuses on strategic communications, international business development, and geopolitical strategy.
His firm helps clients navigate the complexities of geopolitical risks and identify opportunities for growth in emerging markets. With his background in military law, government affairs, and international relations, Yado offers specialized advice on public-private partnerships, national security policy, and global intelligence.
Continued Service in the Marine Corps Reserve
Despite his successful transition to the private sector, Yado remains committed to serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Since 2019, he has served as a Lieutenant Colonel, continuing his role as a Judge Advocate, Congressional Liaison Officer, and Political-Military Officer.
His focus is on Middle East and North Africa affairs, advising senior military officials on defense policy and coordinating with Congress on national security matters. Throughout his career, Yado Yakub has earned recognition as an expert in military law, international relations, geopolitical strategy, and public policy.
His ability to bridge the gap between military operations, government policy, and business strategy has made him a sought-after advisor in both the public and private sectors.
Yado Yakub Military Journey
Yado Yakub has had a distinguished military career as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. His service spans from 2007 to 2015, during which he held various key roles, including Judge Advocate, Congressional Liaison Officer, and Political-Military Officer for the Middle East, North Africa, and Western Europe.
His military career focused on national security, international law, and geopolitical analysis, where he advised senior military officials and collaborated on critical operations and policies.
Commissioning and Early Military Career
In 2007, Yakub commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. His legal expertise and background in international relations quickly led him to serve in several essential capacities.
Particularly in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG), where he specialized in military law, including the laws of war, rules of engagement, and the law of armed conflict.
Yakub’s roles included providing legal counsel to military commanders, advising on the legality of military operations, and ensuring that military actions adhered to both domestic and international law.
Combat Deployment in Iraq
Yakub’s most notable military deployment occurred in 2009, during which he served as a Battalion Judge Advocate with a Marine infantry battalion in Fallujah, Iraq. In this capacity, he was the senior legal advisor during the battalion’s combat operations.
One of his key accomplishments was leading the operational planning and execution of large-scale detainee releases, resulting in the successful release of over 200 Iraqi detainees in line with the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
This required close coordination with the U.S. government, the Iraqi government, and local military authorities to ensure the legal and humane treatment of detainees.
Yakub also played a crucial role in criminal procedure training for Iraqi Police units. In addition, he adjudicated claims filed by Iraqi civilians seeking compensation for damages caused by U.S. military operations.
International Law Instructor and Combat Training
During his time in the Marine Corps, Yakub served as an International Law Instructor, training combat forces on the law of war, rules of engagement, and detainee operations.
This training was especially critical for Marines deploying to Afghanistan, where they were often involved in complex combat situations requiring strict adherence to international law.
Yakub developed and taught dynamic curriculums that addressed changing tactical directives and evolving rules of engagement to minimize civilian casualties during combat operations.
He also worked closely with the Afghan National Army, providing training on international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict to improve their understanding of legal frameworks and ethical conduct in warfare.
Yakub’s efforts helped ensure that U.S. and allied forces maintained high standards of compliance with the Geneva Conventions and other international legal obligations during military operations.
Leadership and Continued Service
Following his active duty service, Yakub continued to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel. In this capacity, he provides ongoing legal and strategic counsel, particularly in geopolitical and national security matters.
He has taken on roles as a Congressional Liaison Officer and Political-Military Officer. His expertise in international law and military policy makes him a critical asset in addressing defense and security challenges in regions such as the Middle East and North Africa.
Yado Yakub Net Worth
Yado Yakub has an estimated net worth of $3 million as of 2025. He makes money through his work as a Senior Strategic Advisor at Y2 Global Advisory, a consultancy he founded. His firm offers expertise in geopolitical strategy, international business development, and strategic communications.
He also earns income through his roles in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, where he serves as a Lieutenant Colonel and provides military legal and strategic counsel.
Additionally, his past work at PricewaterhouseCoopers and SAS involved advising multinational companies and governments on market entry, political risks, and data analytics.
Yado Yakub Wife
Yado Yakub is married to Margaret Brennan, an accomplished American journalist best known as the moderator of Face the Nation on CBS News. Their relationship has a unique story that spans over a decade, beginning when they first met as students at the University of Virginia in 1998.
At the time, Brennan was a freshman and Yakub was a senior, but their paths did not cross much, and neither had a particularly favorable impression of the other.
Yakub thought Brennan was too conservative, too preppy, too New England, while Brennan found Yakub a bit wild and fond of partying.
Years later, the two would reconnect. Brennan spent a semester studying abroad in Jordan at Yarmouk University, where she became close friends with Yakub’s sister, Samia Yakub.
During that time, they traveled together and even visited Yakub’s grandmother in Syria. However, despite being so connected through Samia, Yakub did not cross Brennan’s mind romantically during this period.
Their relationship reignited in Washington, D.C., where both had moved after college. In 2013, after a chance meeting in the city when Brennan was walking her dog and Yakub was waiting for a bus, they reconnected.
A month later, they began dating, exchanging emails and growing closer. After just under a year of dating, Yakub proposed to Brennan during a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, on March 14, 2014.
They married a year later on April 11, 2015, in a beautiful wedding ceremony at the Decatur House in Washington, D.C. The event blended their cultures, with Brennan’s Irish-American heritage and Yakub’s Syrian-American background.
Brennan walked down the aisle to Irish bagpipes, and the cocktail hour featured a performance by a Middle Eastern quartet. The couple has since built a family together.
Yado Yakub Children
Yado Yakub and his wife, Margaret Brennan, have two children together. Their first child, a son named Eamon Brennan Yakub, was born on September 11, 2018.
His name carries deep significance for both parents, with Eamon meaning guardian in Irish and also having a similar meaning of righteous in Arabic.
This shows the couple’s blended cultural backgrounds. The couple expressed their overwhelming joy at becoming parents, with Brennan sharing how deeply in love they both were with their son.
Their second son, Malek Murphy Yakub, was born on April 28, 2021. Just like his older brother, Malek’s name holds cultural meaning. Malek means king in Arabic, and his middle name, Murphy, is a family name from Brennan’s side, further symbolizing the merging of their heritages.
In an Instagram post announcing Malek’s birth, Brennan shared her excitement about welcoming him into the world, especially after the challenges of the pandemic, and expressed her joy about reconnecting with friends and family.
Yado Yakub Height and Weight
Yado Yakub stands at an impressive height of 6 feet 2 inches which is equal to 187 centimeters or 1.87 meters and he weighs around 90 kilograms which is equal to 198 pounds.
Yakub maintains a well-toned physique. His weight aligns with his tall frame which he likely developed through years of military training and a disciplined approach to personal health.
Social Media Presence
Yado Yakub maintains a low-key social media presence, primarily using LinkedIn to share professional updates related to his work with Y2 Global Advisory.
He also has a X account but generally keeps his online activity limited, in contrast to his wife, Margaret Brennan, who is more active on social media.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Yado Yakub has built a strong and successful career through his work in the military, law, and government. He has made a real difference in each role by using his skills to help others and support important goals. His journey shows hard work, dedication, and a strong sense of service.
Stay tuned for our next article! We’d love to hear your thoughts, so don’t forget to drop a comment.
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