Rick Perry
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| Rick Perry | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rick Perry |
| Caption | Official portrait, 2017 |
| Office | 14th United States Secretary of Energy |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Term start | March 2, 2017 |
| Term end | December 1, 2019 |
| Predecessor | Ernest Moniz |
| Successor | Dan Brouillette |
| Order2 | 47th Governor of Texas |
| Lieutenant2 | Bill Ratliff, David Dewhurst |
| Term start2 | December 21, 2000 |
| Term end2 | January 20, 2015 |
| Predecessor2 | George W. Bush |
| Successor2 | Greg Abbott |
| Office3 | 39th Lieutenant Governor of Texas |
| Governor3 | George W. Bush |
| Term start3 | January 19, 1999 |
| Term end3 | December 21, 2000 |
| Predecessor3 | Bob Bullock |
| Successor3 | Bill Ratliff |
| Office4 | Commissioner of Agriculture of Texas |
| Governor4 | Ann Richards, George W. Bush |
| Term start4 | January 15, 1991 |
| Term end4 | January 19, 1999 |
| Predecessor4 | Jim Hightower |
| Successor4 | Susan Combs |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Anita Perry, 1982 |
| Education | Texas A&M University (BS) |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Serviceyears | 1972–1977 |
| Rank | Captain |
Rick Perry. James Richard Perry is an American politician who served as the 47th Governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015, making him the longest-serving governor in the state's history. A member of the Republican Party, he previously held the positions of Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and Lieutenant Governor of Texas before his tenure as United States Secretary of Energy under President Donald Trump.
Early life and education
James Richard Perry was born on March 4, 1950, in Paint Creek, Texas, to farmers Amelia June and Joseph Ray Perry. He was elected as a Boy Scout and graduated from Paint Creek Rural High School before attending Texas A&M University. At Texas A&M University, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, served as Bonfire chairman, and was a Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity member, earning a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 1972. Following graduation, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force, where he served as a C-130 Hercules pilot and achieved the rank of Captain before leaving active duty in 1977.
Political career
Perry began his political career as a Democrat, serving in the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991, representing a district including his hometown of Haskell County. He switched to the Republican Party in 1989 and was elected Texas Commissioner of Agriculture in 1990, defeating incumbent Jim Hightower. In 1998, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas, serving under Governor George W. Bush. Following Bush's election as President of the United States in 2000, Perry assumed the governorship. He was elected to three full terms in 2002, 2006, and 2010, overseeing significant job growth, the expansion of the Texas Enterprise Fund, and signing laws like the 2003 Texas Medical Malpractice reform. His tenure included controversies such as the 2009 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham and his handling of the Texas Board of Education.
2011 presidential campaign
On August 13, 2011, Perry announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination during a speech in Charleston, South Carolina. His campaign initially surged in polls but was hampered by a series of debate performances, most notably a November 2011 moment where he could not recall the third of three federal departments he vowed to eliminate, stating "oops." He suspended his campaign on January 19, 2012, following poor showings in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, and ultimately endorsed the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney.
Secretary of Energy
In December 2016, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Perry to lead the United States Department of Energy, a department he had famously vowed to abolish during his 2011 campaign. He was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 62–37 vote on March 2, 2017. As United States Secretary of Energy, he advocated for an "all of the above" energy strategy, emphasizing the expansion of LNG exports, the revitalization of the nuclear power industry, and support for fossil fuel technologies like carbon capture and storage. His tenure was marked by efforts to support struggling coal and nuclear plants for grid resilience and his involvement in matters related to Ukraine that arose during the first impeachment of Donald Trump. He resigned on December 1, 2019.
Post-government career
Since leaving the Trump administration, Perry has served on corporate boards, including for the general partner of the Energy Transfer Partners pipeline company. He has been a contributor to Fox News and remains active in political commentary, often defending the policies of the Trump administration and advocating for domestic energy production. In 2021, he published the book *"Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington."*
Personal life
Perry married his wife, Anita Perry, a former nurse, in 1982; they have two adult children, Griffin and Sydney. He is a Methodist and has been open about his Christian faith. An avid runner, he has completed several marathons. In 2011, he underwent back surgery to address spinal issues. Perry and his wife reside in Round Top, Texas, and maintain a residence in Austin, Texas.
Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of Texas Category:United States Secretaries of Energy Category:Texas Republicans Category:Texas A&M University alumni