Joni Ernst
| Joni Ernst | |
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United States Senator from Iowa |
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Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with Chuck Grassley |
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| Preceded by | Tom Harkin |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 12th district |
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In office January 5, 2011 – November 28, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Kim Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | Mark Costello |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joni Kay Culver July 1, 1970 Red Oak, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Gail Ernst |
| Children | Libby |
| Alma mater |
Iowa State University Columbus State University |
| Religion | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Website | Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
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| Service/branch |
 United States Army
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| Years of service | 1993–2015 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant Colonel
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| Unit |
 Iowa Army National Guard185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver; July 1, 1970) is an American politician who is the junior United States Senator from Iowa, elected in the November 2014 election. She previously served as a Republican member of the Iowa Senate from 2011 to 2014 and as a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard prior to retiring from the military in 2015. Ernst is the first woman to represent Iowa in the United States Congress and the first female veteran from any state to serve in the United States Senate.
Ernst was born Joni Kay Culver in Montgomery County, Iowa, the daughter of Marilyn and Richard Culver. She was valedictorian of her class at Stanton High School. Ernst earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Iowa State University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus College. While in college, Ernst took part in an agricultural exchange to the Soviet Union.
Ernst served as logistics officer and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard. Near the end of her career, she served as the commanding officer of the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Dodge, the largest battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard. Upon her retirement from the military in 2015, Ernst had served 23 years between the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. She spent 12 months in Kuwait in 2003–04 as the company commander of the 1168th Transportation Company during the Iraq War.
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Wikipedia