SOC16- Ron DeSantis- "Duty Calls"

Ron DeSantis is a native Floridian with blue collar roots who knows the value of hard work. He grew up in Dunedin, FL and worked his way through Yale University, where he graduated magna cum laude and was the captain of the varsity baseball team. He also graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.

While studying at Harvard he earned a commission as a JAG officer in the United States Navy. During his naval service, he deployed to Iraq during the 2007 troop surge as an advisor to a U.S. Navy SEAL commander in support of the SEAL mission in Iraq and also served at the terrorist detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (meritorious service), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal. He is currently a Lieutenant Commander in the reserve component of the United States Navy.

Ron has also served as both a federal and military prosecutor, prosecuting a wide range of cases including child exploitation, theft of sensitive military property, corruption and child abuse.

Since joining Congress in 2013, Ron has been a leader on issues ranging from government accountability, fiscal responsibility, national security and the Constitution. He has helped spearhead efforts to investigate the misdeeds of the IRS, reform the VA, enact term limits, balance the budget and make members of Congress live under the same rules as everybody else.  As the chairman of the National Security subcommittee and as a member of the foreign affairs committee, he is deeply engaged in developing policies to combat foreign threats, to support key allies and to fully equip and train our military.

Ron lives in Marineland, FL with his wife Casey, an Emmy award-winning television host, and their baby daughter Madison.