Career Timeline of Tammy Duckworth: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Tammy Duckworth, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Tammy Duckworth is a U.S. Senator representing Illinois, elected in 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as a U.S. Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district from 2013 to 2017. Before entering politics, Duckworth served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard and is a combat veteran of the Iraq War, where she sustained severe injuries that resulted in the amputation of both her legs. Her military service and personal experiences have shaped her political career and advocacy for veterans and people with disabilities.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1990: Joined the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps

In 1990, Tammy Duckworth joined the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps as a graduate student at George Washington University.

1992: Commissioned Officer in the United States Army Reserve

In 1992, Tammy Duckworth became a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve.

1992: Joined the United States Army Reserve

In 1992, Tammy Duckworth joined the United States Army Reserve.

1996: Entered the Illinois Army National Guard

In 1996, Tammy Duckworth entered the Illinois Army National Guard after transferring from the Army Reserve and attending flight school.

2004: Democratic primary

In 2004 Tammy Duckworth defeated Christine Cegelis and Lindy Scott in Democratic primary.

September 30, 2006: Democratic Response to President Bush's Address

On September 30, 2006, Tammy Duckworth delivered the Democratic Party's response to President George W. Bush's weekly radio address, where she criticized his Iraq War strategy.

November 21, 2006: Appointed Director of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

On November 21, 2006, Tammy Duckworth was appointed director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs by Governor Rod Blagojevich.

2006: Call for Audit of Overseas Spending

During her unsuccessful 2006 congressional campaign, Tammy Duckworth called on Congress to audit the estimated $437 billion spent on overseas military and foreign aid since September 11, 2001.

2006: Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

In 2006, Tammy Duckworth served as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

2008: Speech at Democratic National Convention

In 2008, Senator Duckworth spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

February 3, 2009: Nominated as Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

On February 3, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Tammy Duckworth to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

February 8, 2009: Continued service as Director of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

On February 8, 2009, Tammy Duckworth continued to serve as the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

2009: Assistant Secretary at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs

In 2009, Tammy Duckworth became the assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

June 2011: Resigned from Assistant Secretary position

In June 2011, Tammy Duckworth resigned as Assistant Secretary to launch her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 8th congressional district.

July 2011: Launched Campaign for Illinois's 8th Congressional District

In July 2011, Tammy Duckworth launched her campaign to run in 2012 for Illinois's 8th congressional district.

2011: Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award

In 2011, Access Living in Chicago honored Tammy Duckworth with the Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award for her work on behalf of veterans with disabilities.

2011: Continued service as Assistant Secretary at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs

In 2011, Tammy Duckworth continued to serve as the assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

March 20, 2012: Defeated Raja Krishnamoorthi for Democratic Nomination

On March 20, 2012, Tammy Duckworth defeated Raja Krishnamoorthi for the Democratic nomination for Illinois's 8th congressional district.

November 6, 2012: Defeated Joe Walsh in election

On November 6, 2012, Tammy Duckworth defeated Joe Walsh with 55% of the vote, becoming the first Asian-American from Illinois in Congress, the first woman with a disability elected to Congress, and the first member of Congress born in Thailand.

2012: Speech at Democratic National Convention

In 2012, Senator Duckworth spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

2012: House of Representatives Campaign

In 2012, Tammy Duckworth campaigned for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 8th congressional district.

2012: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives

In 2012, Tammy Duckworth was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

January 3, 2013: Sworn into office

On January 3, 2013, Tammy Duckworth was sworn into office.

April 3, 2013: Returned portion of salary in solidarity

On April 3, 2013, Tammy Duckworth publicly returned 8.4% of her congressional salary to the United States Department of Treasury in solidarity with furloughed government workers.

2013: Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district

In 2013, Tammy Duckworth began representing Illinois's 8th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

October 2014: Retired from the Illinois Army National Guard

In October 2014, Tammy Duckworth retired from the Illinois Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel.

2014: Retired from Illinois Army National Guard

In 2014, Tammy Duckworth retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Illinois Army National Guard after receiving a medical waiver to continue serving for ten years despite her injuries.

2014: Defeated Larry Kaifesh

In the 2014 general election, Tammy Duckworth defeated Republican nominee Larry Kaifesh with 56% of the vote.

March 30, 2015: Duckworth Announces Senate Run

On March 30, 2015, Tammy Duckworth announced her candidacy to challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in the 2016 Senate election in Illinois.

March 15, 2016: Duckworth Wins Democratic Primary

On March 15, 2016, Tammy Duckworth won the Democratic primary election, defeating Andrea Zopp and Napoleon Harris, clearing the way for her to challenge the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in the general election.

2016: Speech at Democratic National Convention

In 2016, Senator Duckworth spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

2016: Duckworth Defeats Kirk

In 2016, Tammy Duckworth defeated Mark Kirk, winning the election with 55% of the vote to Kirk's 40%. This victory made Duckworth the second female Asian American senator, alongside Kamala Harris, after Mazie Hirono.

2016: Gun Control Filibuster and House Sit-in Participation

In 2016, Tammy Duckworth participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster. During the 2016 United States House of Representatives sit-in, she concealed her mobile phone in her prosthetic leg to circumvent the policy against taking pictures or recording on the House floor.

2016: Elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2016, Tammy Duckworth was elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican incumbent Mark Kirk.

2017: Senator from Illinois

In 2017, Tammy Duckworth began serving as the junior United States senator from Illinois.

2017: Legislative Effectiveness Score

In 2017, as a freshman senator in the 115th Congress (2017-18), Tammy Duckworth received a Legislative Effectiveness Score (LES) of "Exceeds Expectations" from The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL). Her score was the 11th highest out of 48 Democratic senators.

April 12, 2018: Senate Rule Change for Children on the Floor

On April 12, 2018, Senator Duckworth introduced Senate Resolution 463, which unanimously passed, changing Senate rules to allow senators to bring children under one year old onto the Senate floor during votes.

April 15, 2020: Invited to Task Force on Reopening Economy

On April 15, 2020, the Trump administration invited Senator Duckworth to join a bipartisan task force focused on reopening the economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 2020: Climate Crisis Report

In August 2020, Senator Duckworth, as a member of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, contributed to the publication of a report detailing the committee's findings.

2020: Permanent Co-Chair of Democratic National Convention

In 2020, Senator Duckworth served as the permanent co-chair of the Democratic National Convention. During the convention, she referred to Trump as "coward-in-chief" for not supporting the American military.

March 2021: Duckworth Announces Reelection Candidacy

In March 2021, Tammy Duckworth announced that she would be running for reelection in 2022.

June 6, 2021: Visit to Taipei with Vaccine Donation

On June 6, 2021, Tammy Duckworth, along with Senators Dan Sullivan and Christopher Coons, visited Taipei in an U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport. They met with President Tsai Ing-wen and Minister Joseph Wu to announce President Biden's donation plan of 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines through the global COVAX program.

June 2022: Visit to Taiwan

In June 2022, Senator Duckworth visited Taiwan on behalf of President Biden, where she met with Tsai Ing-wen to announce the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. This visit was planned in coordination with the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

November 8, 2022: Duckworth Reelected to Senate

On November 8, 2022, Tammy Duckworth was reelected to the Senate, defeating Republican nominee Kathy Salvi. This victory made Duckworth the first woman reelected to the Senate from Illinois.

2022: Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022

In 2022, Senator Duckworth sponsored S. 3635, the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022. This bill provides line of duty death designation to law enforcement and other public safety officers who die as a result of traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and other "silent" injuries.

February 2023: Chair of Aviation Safety Subcommittee

In February 2023, Senator Duckworth was named chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. She also co-sponsored a bill with Deb Fischer to improve reporting on complaints from disabled airline passengers.