Early Life and Education of Tulsi Gabbard: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Tulsi Gabbard. A timeline of key moments.

Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and military officer currently serving as the Director of National Intelligence since 2025. A Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2021, she previously served as a U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district (2013-2021). Gabbard's political affiliations have shifted over time, beginning as a Democrat, becoming an Independent in 2022, and later joining the Republican Party in 2024. She was also the youngest state legislator in Hawaii from 2002 to 2004.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

April 12, 1981: Tulsi Gabbard's Birth

On April 12, 1981, Tulsi Gabbard was born in Leloaloa, American Samoa.

Others born on this day/year

1983: Family moved back to Hawaii

In 1983, when she was two years old, Tulsi Gabbard's family moved back to Hawaii.

1998: Support for Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

In 1998, at age 17, Tulsi Gabbard supported her father's campaign to amend the Constitution of Hawaii to give lawmakers the power to "reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples". She also favored the Federal Marriage Amendment.

2002: Dropped out of Leeward Community College to run for Hawaii State Legislature

In 2002, Tulsi Gabbard dropped out of Leeward Community College to run for the Hawaii state legislature, becoming the youngest woman ever elected as a U.S. state representative.

August 2004: Announced She Would Not Campaign for Reelection

In August 2004, Tulsi Gabbard announced that she would not campaign for a second term in the Hawaii House of Representatives after volunteering for Army National Guard service in Iraq.

March 2007: Graduated from Alabama Military Academy

In March 2007, Tulsi Gabbard graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy at the top of her class, the first woman ever to do so.

2007: Completed Officer Training Program

In 2007, Tulsi Gabbard completed the officer training program at the Alabama Military Academy.

2009: Graduated from Hawaii Pacific University

In 2009, Tulsi Gabbard graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in international business.

2013: Gabbard takes oath of office with Bhagavad Gita

In 2013, Tulsi Gabbard took the oath of office with her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita.

July 2019: Visit to Puerto Rico and Protests

In July 2019, Tulsi Gabbard was the only 2020 presidential candidate to visit Puerto Rico and join protests urging Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign.

July 2020: Gabbard Meets with Vanessa Guillén's Family, Calls for Reforms

In July 2020, Tulsi Gabbard met with the family of Vanessa Guillén, a U.S. Army soldier who was murdered after being reported missing, and called for reforms to address military sexual harassment.

August 2020: Advocacy for Jennifer Smith

In August 2020, Tulsi Gabbard advocated for Jennifer Smith, a Hawaii Department of Health epidemiologist who reported issues with the state's COVID-19 contact tracing program.

November 2020: Reinstatement of Jennifer Smith

In November 2020, Jennifer Smith, who Tulsi Gabbard advocated for, was reinstated in her position.

2020: Shift in Political Positions in 2020

In 2020, Tulsi Gabbard, while maintaining liberal stances on domestic issues during her presidential primary run, began adopting positions more aligned with the Republican Party on social issues, including abortion, gun control, and transgender rights. She introduced a bill to ban trans women from female sports and supported that women sports should be for biological females.

2021: Departure from Congress

After her departure from Congress in 2021, Tulsi Gabbard took more mainstream positions on issues such as transgender rights, border security, and foreign policy.

2022: Spoke at CPAC and Left Democratic Party

In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard spoke at the conservative CPAC conference and left the Democratic Party.

2022: Became an Independent

In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard switched her political affiliation to become an Independent.

2022: Speaker at CPAC

In 2022, Tulsi Gabbard was a featured speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). She has also been a frequent critic of the Biden administration.

2024: Endorsed Donald Trump and joined Republican Party

In 2024, Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Donald Trump for the presidential election and joined the Republican Party.

2024: Joined the Republican Party

In 2024, Tulsi Gabbard joined the Republican Party.

2024: Gabbard discusses IVF attempts

In 2024, Tulsi Gabbard mentioned on Meghan McCain's podcast that she and Abraham Williams had tried to start a family and had undergone several in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, without success.