There are 100 U.S. military veterans representing the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in the 119th Congress, the most representation of military service Congress has seen since 2011 when there were 118. Among these, 27 served in either the National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces.
Below is a roundup of notable current and former guardsmen and reservists in office, including seven members who are balancing both roles as they still actively serve in the military.
U.S. Cabinet Members
Two of the most visible veteran guardsmen in office are recently confirmed cabinet members Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Pete Hegseth
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth served as a Minnesota Army National Guardsman at Guantanamo Bay detention camp and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was commissioned as an infantry officer after graduating from Princeton University in 2003 and left the Guard in 2021.
Tulsi Gabbard
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard enlisted and served in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 for one year before she volunteered for a 12-month deployment to Iraq. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, where she served as a military police officer and deployed to Kuwait from 2008 to 2009. She transferred to the Army Reserve in 2020 and deployed to the Horn of Africa in support of a special operations mission. She remains assigned to the California-based unit in the Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), serving as a lieutenant colonel.
Doug Collins
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins was commissioned as a reserve officer chaplain candidate in the Navy from 1994 to 1996. He left the service as an ensign but joined the Air Force Reserve in 2002 as a chaplain to support the troops fighting the Global War on Terror. He deployed to Iraq with the 94th Airlift Wing from 2008 to 2009, serving as the nighttime flight chaplain. He continues to serve as a colonel.
119th US Congress
The veterans in Congress who served in the Guard and reserves represent the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and National Guard, reaching notable ranks such as colonel, lieutenant colonel and general. Seven members of Congress are currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Jake Auchincloss
Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., served in the Marine Corps from 2010 to 2015. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 and Panama in 2014. He now serves in the Individual Ready Reserve as Maj. Auchincloss.
Brian Babin
Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, served in the Texas Army National Guard as an airborne artilleryman from 1969 to 1975 and was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force from 1975 to 1979.
Jim Banks
Vice chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., served in the Navy Reserve since 2012 as a supply corps officer. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel. He currently serves as Lt. j.g. Banks.
Jack Bergman
Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., served in the Marine Corps and continues to serve in the Michigan Army National Guard as Maj. Gen. Bergman.
Richard Blumenthal
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1970 to 1976. He achieved the rank of sergeant.
Vern Buchanan
Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., served in the Michigan Air National Guard from 1970 to 1976. He is the co-chair of the bipartisan, 30-member Florida congressional delegation and vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Salud Carbajal
Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1984 to 1992. He was mobilized to active duty during the Gulf War in 1992.
Tammy Duckworth
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., enlisted in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard. She retired from the Reserve Forces at the rank of lieutenant colonel after serving 23 years.
Joni Ernst
Sen. Joni Ernst, D-Iowa, entered the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Iowa State University in 1990. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve in 1992. She served as an officer in the Army Reserves from 1993 to 2001. She joined the Iowa Army National Guard in 2001 and was called up to active duty in 2003 to deploy as a company commander to Kuwait and Iraq. She retired from the Iowa Army National Guard in 2015 as a lieutenant colonel.
Scott Fitzgerald
Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wisc., served in the Army Reserve from 1981 to 2009 as an armor officer. He retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Scott Franklin
Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Fla., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a Navy aviator from 1986 to 2000 before joining the Navy Reserve, where he served from 2000 to 2012. He deployed to the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf and the North Atlantic. He retired at the rank of commander.
Lindsey Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., served active duty in the Air Force from 1982 to 1988. He served as a legal adviser and deployed in support of operations in the Middle East. He left active duty, and in 1989 joined the South Carolina Air National Guard, where he served until 1995. In 1990, during this time with the Guard, he was called to active duty and served as Staff Judge Advocate. He then joined the Air Force Reserves. He retired in 2015 at the rank of colonel.
Andy Harris
Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., served in the Navy Reserve from 1988 to 2005 to fill a critical need for anesthesiologists. He was called to active duty in 1990 to assist with Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He retired at the rank of commander.
Trent Kelly
Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., joined the Mississippi Army National Guard in 1985 and served as a combat engineer. He mobilized for deployment in support of Operation Desert Storm and completed two tours in Iraq. He is currently serving as Maj. Gen. Kelly.
Ted Lieu
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., served active duty in the Air Force from 1995 to 1999 as a JAG Corps officer. Afterward, he joined the Air Force Reserve, and served from 2000 to 2021. He retired as a colonel.
Max Miller
Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 2013 until he transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve in 2019. He reached the rank of corporal.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, served in the Army from 1976 to 1982 and in the Army Reserve from 1983 to 2000 as a nurse and doctor. She retired as a lieutenant colonel.
Barry Moore
Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., joined the Alabama Army National Guard and served from 1989 to 1992. He then served in the Army Reserve from 1992 to 1995. He achieved the rank of staff sergeant.
Troy Nehls
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, served as an infantryman in the Wisconsin National Guard from 1988 to 2001 and completed a tour in Bosnia. He also served in the Army Reserve as a civil affairs officer from 2001 to 2008, completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He retired at the rank of major.
Jimmy Panetta
Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., served as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve from 2003 to 2011. He volunteered for active duty and deployed to Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He reached the rank of lieutenant.
Scott Perry
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard from 1980 to 2019 as a fighter pilot. He deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He retired as a brigadier general.
August Pfluger
Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2000 and served in the Air Force. He deployed to Iraq in 2016 and Syria in 2017. He currently serves as a command pilot in the Air Force Reserve as Col. Pfluger.
Hal Rogers
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., served in the Kentucky Army National Guard and the North Carolina Army National Guard from 1956 to 1963. He reached the rank of staff sergeant.
Mike Rounds
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., served in the South Dakota Army National Guard from 1981 to 1989 and achieved the rank of captain. His service included both training and leadership positions within the Guard.
Dan Sullivan
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, served in the Marine Corps from 1993 to 2000. He left active duty and joined the Marine Corps Reserve. He deployed to the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and Central Asia. He returned to active duty in 2013 to serve with a Joint Task Force in Afghanistan. He served as an infantry and reconnaissance officer during his military career. He retired in 2024 at the rank of colonel.
William Timmons
Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., joined the South Carolina Army National Guard as a judge advocate general officer in 2018. He continues to serve as Capt. Timmons.
Steve Womack
Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., served in the Arkansas Army National Guard from 1979 to 2009. He deployed to Sinai, Egypt, in 2002, and retired as a colonel.
Stay up-to-date on the legislation of the 119th US Congress at Congress.gov.
