John F. Kerry

A Senator from Massachusetts. Born in Fitzsimons Army Hospital (Colorado), December 11, 1943. Graduated, St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H. , 1962. Graduated, Yale University 1966. Served in the United States Navy 1966-1970, with service in Vietnam. Received numerous awards, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Graduated, Boston College Law School 1976. Admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1976 and commenced practice in 1976. Assistant district attorney of Middlesex County, Mass. 1977-1982. Lieutenant governor of Massachusetts 1982-1984. Elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1984. Subsequently appointed to the remainder of the term left vacant by the resignation of Paul Tsongas, and took the oath of office on January 2, 1985. Reelected in 1990, 1996, 2002, and again in 2008, and served from January 2, 1985, until his resignation on February 1, 2013, to accept a Cabinet position. Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (One Hundredth Congress), Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3-20, 2001. June 6, 2001-January 3, 2003], One Hundred Tenth Congress), Committee on Foreign Relations (One Hundred Eleventh to One Hundred Thirteenth [January 3, 2013-February 1, 2013] Congresses). Was an unsuccessful Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 2004. Secretary of State in the Cabinet of President Barack Obama, 2013-2017. Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden to serve as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (2021-2024). Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 3, 2024.