Born in New Jersey, Elleithee grew up in
Tucson, Arizona, to parents who had
immigrated a year prior from Egypt. He was a student at
Flowing Wells High School before moving to
Washington, D.C., to attend
Georgetown University, from which he graduated in 1994 with a degree from the
School of Foreign Service. He received his master's degree in political management from
George Washington University, also in Washington, D.C., in 1996. == Career ==