Chuck Hagel

Chuck Hagel was born in the Sand Hills of Nebraska in 1946, the oldest of four sons of a World War II veteran. His family taught him the values of hard work, community service, and sacrifice. He volunteered to fight in Vietnam, as did his brother Tom. He rose to be an infantry Sergeant, serving side by side with Tom. Chuck and he were wounded twice, both times while serving together. After graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, using the G.I. Bill, Hagel went to Washington to work for a freshman Congressman from his home state. In 1980, Ronald Reagan nominated him to be Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration. He ultimately left that post over inadequate support for Vietnam veterans suffering from Agent Orange. This fight became one of the causes of his life, helping federal courts distribute hundreds of millions of dollars for victims of Agent Orange. In the mid 1980s, Hagel co-founded Vanguard Cellular Systems, Inc., which became one of the largest independent cellular systems in the country. He also served as President and CEO of the USO; the Chief Operating Officer of the 1990 Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations (G-7 Summit) in Houston, Texas; Deputy Commissioner General of the United States for the 1982 Worlds Fair; president of an investment bank; and served on boards of some of the worlds largest companies. The first Republican Senator from Nebraska in a generation, Hagel was elected in 1996 and reelected in 2002 with a record 83 percent of the vote. He has championed U.S. national security policy that has kept Americas military the strongest in the world. Senator Hagel believes in working closely with allies and partners, and that the U.S. should only use military force as a last resort. He is a serious leader that has never shrunk from a fight -- and wont -- if confirmed as the 24th Secretary of Defense. Hagel and his wife of 28 years, Lilibet, have two college age children: a daughter, Allyn, and a son, Ziller. Key Points: Combat Veteran: Senator Hagel would be the first Vietnam combat veteran, and the first noncommissioned officer, to rise to be Secretary of Defense. He knows what it means to serve and knows sacrifice. Has always fought for the troops: Senator Hagel has always supported fellow Vietnam veterans and veterans of all wars. He fought for Agent Orange benefits at the VA, led the USO, chaired the court appointed Agent Orange Payment Program, and co-authored and cosponsored the post-9/11 G.I. Bill in 2008. Smart manager and businessman: Senator Hagel has managed international organizations and companies and served on the boards of some of the worlds largest corporations. Bipartisan: Senator Hagel always worked across the aisle to advance U.S. national security. He has frequently said his oath as a U.S. Senator was to the constitution and our country, not to partisan interests. Pragmatic: Senator Hagel believes in asking tough questions and gathering the facts before making informed decisions. He believes the United States must continue to lead the world, working closely with our allies and partners across the globe.