Biography

Ryan Keith Zinke is a Republican politician representing Montana's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born on November 1, 1961, in Bozeman, Montana, he was raised in Whitefish. Zinke is a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL officer who retired after 23 years of military service.

After his military career, Zinke served two terms as a Montana State Senator from 2009 to 2013. He was elected as Montana’s at-large congressional representative in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. In 2017, he was appointed as the 52nd U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Donald Trump, serving until 2019.

In 2022, Zinke was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, now representing Montana's 1st congressional district.

Education and Political Experience

• Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Oregon
  • Master of Business Administration from National University
  • Master of Science in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego
    

• Political Experience:

  • Montana State Senator
  • Chaired the Senate Education Committee
  • Served on the Senate Finance and Claims Committee
  • U.S. Representative for Montana's At-Large District
  • U.S. Secretary of the Interior
  • U.S. Representative for Montana's 1st Congressional District
    

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Military Service:

  • Served as a U.S. Navy SEAL from 1986 to 2008, retiring at the rank of Commander
  • First SEAL to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives

• Legislative Focus:

  • Advocated for energy independence and the development of public lands
  • Supported the use of ground troops in the Middle East to combat ISIS
  • Opposed the Affordable Care Act and various environmental regulations

• As Secretary of the Interior:

  • Opened federal lands for oil, gas, and mineral exploration and extraction
  • Faced multiple ethics investigations, leading to his resignation in 2019

• Current Congressional Roles:

  • Serves on the House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees
  • Member of the Joint Commission on China

Zinke's career reflects a commitment to public service through military, legislative, and executive roles, with a focus on energy policy, public land management, and national security.