Buck McKeon | |
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Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee | |
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015 |
|
Speaker | John Boehner |
Preceded by | Ike Skelton |
Succeeded by | Mac Thornberry |
Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee | |
In office June 9, 2009 – January 3, 2011 |
|
Leader | John Boehner |
Preceded by | John McHugh |
Succeeded by | Adam Smith |
Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee | |
In office January 3, 2007 – June 9, 2009 |
|
Leader | John Boehner |
Preceded by | George Miller |
Succeeded by | John Kline |
Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee | |
In office February 2, 2006 – January 3, 2007 |
|
Speaker | Dennis Hastert |
Preceded by | John Boehner |
Succeeded by | George Miller |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 25th district |
|
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2015 |
|
Preceded by | Edward Roybal |
Succeeded by | Steve Knight |
Personal details | |
Born |
Howard Philip McKeon September 9, 1938 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Patricia Kunz |
Children | 6 |
Alma mater | Brigham Young University, Utah |
Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Howard Philip "Buck" McKeon (born September 9, 1938) is a former U.S. Representative, serving from 1993-2015. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was a former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
On January 16, 2014, McKeon announced he would not seek reelection in the 2014 elections.
Born in Tujunga, Los Angeles, California, McKeon graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga. He spent two years as a Mormon missionary before enrolling at Brigham Young University. He later received his Bachelor of Science degree in animal husbandry in 1985, after previously putting his studies on hold to raise a family and establish his early business career. He was the owner of a Western clothing shop until its bankruptcy in 1999 and has also served as the chairman of a small, regional bank. McKeon gained his first political experience when he was elected to the William S. Hart High School District board of trustees.
McKeon was a one-term councilman of Santa Clarita, being one of the first to hold that post after the city incorporated in 1987. He held that position until entering the House.
In 2009, McKeon served as ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Labor. In June, President Barack Obama nominated Representative John M. McHugh of New York, who was the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, as Secretary of the Army. On June 9, the House Republican leadership appointed McKeon as the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee. Under rules of the House of Representatives, McKeon was required to step down from his position as ranking member of the Education and Labor Committee, though he continues to serve on the committee. McKeon was named chairman of the Committee on Armed Services in January, following the Republican takeover of the House in the November 2010 elections.