Where They Went
Congress and the Cabinet
Iraq veterans now serve in both parties, in both chambers, and in the cabinet. A nonpartisan summary from the public record.
| Veteran | Iraq War service | Later public service |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Murphy | Army JAG officer, 82nd Airborne; Baghdad, 2003–2004 | First Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. House (2006); Under Secretary of the Army |
| Tammy Duckworth | Army Black Hawk pilot; wounded in Iraq, November 2004 | Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Representative; U.S. Senator from Illinois |
| Seth Moulton | Marine infantry officer; four Iraq tours | U.S. Representative from Massachusetts since 2015 |
| Joni Ernst | Army National Guard; commanded a transportation company in Kuwait, 2003–2004 | U.S. Senator from Iowa |
| Jason Crow | Army; 82nd Airborne in the 2003 invasion; 75th Ranger Regiment | U.S. Representative from Colorado since 2019 |
| Tom Cotton | Army infantry officer; Iraq with the 101st Airborne, 2006 | U.S. Representative; U.S. Senator from Arkansas |
| Tulsi Gabbard | Hawaii Army National Guard; Iraq with a medical unit, 2004–2005 | U.S. Representative; Director of National Intelligence since 2025 |
| Pete Hegseth | Minnesota Army National Guard infantry officer; Iraq | Secretary of Defense since 2025 |
Notes
- Patrick Murphy was the first veteran of the Iraq War elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, in 2006.
- Tammy Duckworth lost both legs when her helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade on November 12, 2004, and later became the first woman with a disability elected to Congress.
- Joni Ernst became the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Nonpartisan
This list recognizes military service and later public service, without regard to party or position. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Facts are drawn from the public record; see Sources.