Aside from the intelligence and law enforcement officials who work daily to keep the United States homeland safe from terrorism, the vast majority of Americans have likely never heard of Zachery Chesser, a young American now serving a 25-year sentence on several terrorism-related charges. Yet, Chesser is significant because he is part of a trend which, if not addressed, threatens the security of our homeland. That is why his story is being described in this report., The report traces Chesser?s progression from an average American childhood, to his becoming an adherent of violent Islamist extremism, then a propagandist, and finally a strategist for that cause. In doing so, the report emphasizes the growing importance of social media in radicalization and recruitment toward violent Islamist extremism. The information in this report is based on a review of hundreds of pages of Chesser?s online writings published prior to his arrest, court documents, and 37 pages of Chesser’s written correspondence with Committee staff from August to October 2011.