Gary Locke

Gary Locke
United States Department of Commerce · Public domain · source
Name	Gary Locke
Birth date	March 12, 1950
Birth place	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Attorney, politician, diplomat
Party	Democratic Party (United States)
Spouse	Mona Lee Wegner
Children	Two

Gary Locke is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as the 21st Governor of Washington, the 36th United States Secretary of Commerce, and the United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), he was the first Chinese American governor in the continental United States and the first Asian American to serve in a U.S. Cabinet position and as ambassador to China. His career spans municipal law, state executive leadership, federal cabinet management, and bilateral diplomacy involving major international institutions and economic treaties.

Early life and education

Born in Seattle, Washington, Locke is the son of Chinese immigrant parents who arrived from Taishan county, Guangdong, and raised in the city's Beacon Hill neighborhood. He graduated from Pine Lake Middle School and Franklin High School, then attended Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in government, linking him to campus organizations and regional alumni networks. Locke continued his education at the University of Washington School of Law, receiving a Juris Doctor and joining the Washington State Bar Association as he began practicing law in King County. Early influences included local officials and community leaders active in King County, Washington ethnic civic groups and labor organizations.

Legal and political career in Washington State

Locke started his public career as an attorney in private practice before being elected to the King County Council in the late 1980s, where he worked on land use and public transit issues connected to Sound Transit and municipal partners. He later served as the Executive of King County, Washington, overseeing agencies that coordinated with the Federal Transit Administration and state legislatures on infrastructure funding. In county office, Locke collaborated with elected officials from the Washington State Senate and the Washington House of Representatives and engaged with tribal governments such as the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe on regional planning and environmental remediation projects. His county tenure built relationships with national figures in the National Association of Counties and policy groups focused on urban growth, public health, and criminal justice reform.

Governor of Washington

Elected Governor of Washington in 1996, Locke succeeded Mike Lowry and served two terms. As governor, he worked with the Washington State Legislature on budgets, tax policy, and transportation investments tied to the Interstate Highway System corridors in the state. Locke emphasized partnerships with labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union and businesses including Boeing and Microsoft to promote job growth and trade. His administration prioritized education funding involving the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and higher education institutions like the University of Washington and Washington State University. In environmental policy, Locke signed measures addressing salmon recovery in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and regional conservation groups. Locke also engaged in national networks of governors through the National Governors Association, shaping homeland security and disaster preparedness policy after the September 11 attacks.

United States Secretary of Commerce

Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate, Locke served as United States Secretary of Commerce from 2009 to 2011. In that role, he led the United States Department of Commerce, overseeing agencies including the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He advocated for export promotion through programs linked to the International Trade Administration and coordinated with trade negotiators in the United States Trade Representative on issues affecting manufacturers such as General Electric and technology firms in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Locke worked on policies concerning intellectual property, innovation clusters, and satellite navigation cooperation with agencies like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. His tenure involved regular engagement with the United States Congress on stimulus measures and economic recovery initiatives following the 2008 financial crisis.

United States Ambassador to China

Appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2011, Locke served as the United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 2011 to 2014. As ambassador, he managed the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and consular posts in cities including Shanghai and Guangzhou, engaging with Chinese leaders in the Chinese Communist Party and government ministries such as the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. His diplomatic portfolio included high-level discussions on bilateral trade, intellectual property enforcement with China-based firms, people-to-people exchanges involving institutions like Peking University and Tsinghua University, and cooperation on regional security issues linked to the Asia-Pacific forum. Locke navigated tensions over maritime disputes in the South China Sea and worked with multilateral partners including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on stability and economic integration.

Later career and personal life

After his diplomatic service, Locke joined private sector boards and trade advisory groups, advising multinational firms and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and engaging in public speaking at institutions like the Council on Foreign Relations. He has served on corporate boards and legal advisory panels addressing cross-border investment, supply chain resilience, and technology transfer with companies operating in Greater China. Locke is married to Mona Lee Wegner; they have two children and maintain ties to community organizations in Seattle and civic institutions such as the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. He has been recognized by Asian American advocacy groups and civic organizations including the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund for his trailblazing roles in state and federal service. Category:1950 birthsCategory:Living peopleCategory:Governors of Washington (state)Category:United States Secretaries of CommerceCategory:Ambassadors of the United States to China