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 an American politician and retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel currently serving as a U.S. Senator from Illinois since 2017. As a member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented Illinois's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017. Her military service and subsequent political career have made her a notable figure in American politics.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1990: Joined 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 and served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in the Iraq War.

1996: Entered Illinois Army National Guard

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

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

On September 30, 2006, Tammy Duckworth gave the Democratic Party's response to President George W. Bush's weekly radio address, criticizing Bush's Iraq War strategy.

November 21, 2006: Appointed director of the 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, after her unsuccessful campaign for Congress.

2006: Unsuccessful House of Representatives run and appointed Director of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

In 2006, Tammy Duckworth ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. Following this, she served as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs from 2006 to 2009.

February 3, 2009: Nominated as Assistant Secretary of 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: Served as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

Tammy Duckworth served as the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs until February 8, 2009. During her time as director, she was credited with starting a program to help veterans with PTSD and brain injuries.

2009: Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

In 2009, Tammy Duckworth became the assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, serving until 2011.

June 2011: Resigned as Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

In June 2011, Tammy Duckworth resigned from her position as Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs to launch her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 8th congressional district in the 2012 election.

July 2011: Launched Campaign for Congress

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

2011: Remained in Department of Veterans Affairs

In 2011, Tammy Duckworth was 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 in Illinois's 8th congressional district.

November 6, 2012: Elected to Congress

On November 6, 2012, Tammy Duckworth defeated Joe Walsh, 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: Campaign for U.S. House of Representatives

In 2012, Tammy Duckworth launched her campaign 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, where she served two terms.

January 3, 2013: Sworn into office

On January 3, 2013, Tammy Duckworth was sworn into office as a U.S. Representative.

April 3, 2013: Returned portion of salary

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

June 26, 2013: Questioning Strong Castle CEO

On June 26, 2013, Tammy Duckworth questioned Strong Castle CEO Braulio Castillo during a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on a $500 million government contract awarded based on Castillo's disabled veteran status.

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 from the Illinois Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel, after serving for ten years despite her injuries in the Iraq War.

2014: Re-elected to the House of Representatives

In 2014, Tammy Duckworth was re-elected to the House of Representatives, defeating Republican nominee Larry Kaifesh.

March 30, 2015: Duckworth Announces Senate Candidacy

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

2016: Gun Control Filibuster and House Sit-in

In 2016, Tammy Duckworth participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster. During the 2016 United States House of Representatives sit-in, she hid her mobile phone in her prosthetic leg to prevent it being taken away.

2016: Elected to the U.S. Senate

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

2016: GQ Interview on Firearm Restrictions

In a 2016 interview with GQ magazine, Tammy Duckworth discussed the necessity of Senate control and "closing the gap" in the House to pass firearm restrictions.

2017: Legislative Effectiveness Score

In 2017, during her time as a freshman senator in the 115th Congress (2017–18), Tammy Duckworth's "Legislative Effectiveness Score" (LES) was rated as "Exceeds Expectations" by The Center for Effective Lawmaking, ranking her 11th out of 48 Democratic senators.

April 12, 2018: Senate Rule Change for Senators with Young Children

On April 12, 2018, Tammy Duckworth introduced Senate Resolution 463, which passed by unanimous consent, changing Senate rules to allow a senator to bring a child under one year old to the Senate floor during votes.

August 2018: Letter on Migrant Children Reunification

In August 2018, Tammy Duckworth was one of 17 senators to sign a letter led by Kamala Harris to United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, demanding action to reunite 539 migrant children with their families.

April 2019: Letter Advocating for Energy Department Funding

In April 2019, Tammy Duckworth was one of 12 senators to sign a bipartisan letter advocating that the Energy Department be granted maximum funding for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

May 2019: Cosponsor of South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act

In May 2019, Tammy Duckworth was a cosponsor of the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act, a bipartisan bill reintroduced by Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin.

April 15, 2020: Invitation to COVID-19 Task Force

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

August 2020: Climate Crisis Committee Report

In August 2020, Tammy Duckworth, as a member of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, participated in publishing a report of its findings.

2020: 2020 Democratic National Convention

In 2020, Tammy Duckworth was the permanent co-chair of the Democratic National Convention. At the 2020 convention, she called Trump "coward-in-chief" for not supporting the American military.

March 2021: Duckworth announces candidacy for reelection

In March 2021, Tammy Duckworth announced her candidacy for reelection in 2022.

June 6, 2021: Visit to Taipei to announce vaccine donation

On June 6, 2021, Tammy Duckworth and Senators Dan Sullivan and Christopher Coons visited Taipei to meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Minister Joseph Wu to announce President Biden's donation plan of 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines.

June 2022: Visit to Taiwan

In June 2022, President Biden sent Tammy Duckworth to Taiwan, where she held a press conference with Tsai Ing-wen to announce the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade.

November 8, 2022: Duckworth Reelected to the Senate

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

2022: Sponsorship of Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022

In 2022, Tammy Duckworth sponsored S. 3635, the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022, aimed at providing 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 Subcommittee

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

June 2023: Criticism of Senator Sinema's legislation

In June 2023, Tammy Duckworth criticized Senator Kyrsten Sinema for proposing legislation to limit the amount of time an airplane pilot needs to train for certification.

November 2023: Meeting with Israeli Defense Officials

In November 2023, Tammy Duckworth organized a meeting with Israeli defense officials to discuss their strategy in the Gaza war. She stated that a ceasefire "would not help the residents of Gaza nor would it help the security of Israel".