Dan Heesemann is an American researcher who focuses on counterterrorism policy and operations both in the US and abroad. He is currently a Joseph S. Nye, Jr. research intern for the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Heesemann's work at CNAS focuses on efforts to counter the Islamic State’s operations and influence outside of Iraq and Syria. He also conducts research on the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and its broader geopolitical implications. Heesemann graduated from The Catholic University of America in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with concentrations in crime and justice studies and global comparative processes and a minor in international politics.