Wes Moore

Wes Moore
Name	Wes Moore
Caption	Official portrait, 2023
Order	63rd
Office	Governor of Maryland
Lieutenant	Aruna Miller
Term start	January 18, 2023
Predecessor	Larry Hogan
Birth date	15 October 1978
Birth place	Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Dawn Flythe
Education	Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Johns Hopkins University (BA), Wolfson College, Oxford (MLitt)
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1998–2014
Rank	Captain
Unit	82nd Airborne Division
Battles	War in Afghanistan

Wes Moore is an American politician, author, and former investment banker serving as the 63rd Governor of Maryland since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the first African American to hold the office in Maryland's history. Prior to his political career, Moore served as a captain in the United States Army, worked in finance at Goldman Sachs, and led the Robin Hood Foundation, one of the largest anti-poverty organizations in New York City.

Early life and education

Wes Moore was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, and spent his early childhood in the Baltimore area. Following the death of his father, he moved with his mother to the Bronx in New York City, where he faced significant challenges in his youth. To provide structure, his mother enrolled him at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Pennsylvania, a pivotal experience that set him on a new path. He later attended Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated with a degree in International Relations and was a Phi Beta Kappa honoree. As a Rhodes Scholar, he earned a master's degree in International Relations from Wolfson College, Oxford.

Military service

Moore was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Army ROTC program at Johns Hopkins. He served as a captain and paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division. His service included a combat tour in Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), where he was part of a team advising Afghan National Army forces. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for his service. This period deeply informed his leadership philosophy and commitment to public service, themes he later explored in his writing.

Business and nonprofit career

After leaving active duty, Moore began his civilian career as a special assistant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the U.S. Department of State. He then transitioned to finance, working as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in London and New York City. Shifting to the social sector, he became the chief executive officer of the Robin Hood Foundation, a major philanthropic organization focused on poverty alleviation in New York City. He also founded and led BridgeEdU, an educational technology startup aimed at increasing college completion rates.

Political career

Moore's first foray into electoral politics came with his successful 2022 campaign for Governor of Maryland. He secured the Democratic nomination after a competitive primary that included candidates like Tom Perez and Peter Franchot. In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Dan Cox, a state delegate endorsed by former President Donald Trump. His campaign focused on themes of economic opportunity, educational equity, and public safety, resonating with a broad coalition of voters across the state.

Governor of Maryland

Moore was inaugurated as governor on January 18, 2023, with Aruna Miller as his lieutenant governor. His early administration has prioritized initiatives such as the Service Year Option program to engage young adults, accelerating the state's minimum wage increase to $15 per hour, and declaring a state of emergency on homelessness. He has also worked with the Maryland General Assembly to pass significant legislation on climate goals through the Maryland Climate Solutions Now Act and to strengthen reproductive rights in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision.

Personal life

Moore is married to Dawn Flythe, a former television producer; the couple has two children and resides in the Government House in Annapolis. He is a bestselling author, known for works like *The Other Wes Moore* and *Five Days*. His family maintains strong ties to Baltimore, where his philanthropic work has been centered. Moore is also a frequent public speaker on topics of leadership, equity, and national service, and he serves on several nonprofit boards, including for the Johns Hopkins University board of trustees.

Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of Maryland Category:Maryland Democrats Category:American Rhodes Scholars Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni Category:Alumni of Wolfson College, Oxford Category:United States Army officers Category:American investment bankers Category:Writers from Maryland