Anthony Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Woods
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| Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families | |
| Assumed office March 2, 2023 Acting: January 18, 2023 – March 2, 2023 |
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| Governor | Wes Moore |
| Preceded by | George W. Owings III |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Anthony Christopher Woods
July 20, 1980 Fairfield, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPP) University of Maryland, College Park (MBA) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 2003–2008 (active) 2014–present (reserves) |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | U.S. Army Reserve |
Anthony Christopher Woods was born on July 20, 1980. He is an American politician who currently serves as the Secretary for the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families. He started this important role in January 2023. Before his work in government, Woods was an officer in the U.S. Army. He served during a time of conflict called Operation Iraqi Freedom. Woods left the military in 2008 due to a policy that was later changed.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Anthony Woods was born on July 20, 1980, at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. He grew up with his single mother, who ran a small business and worked as a housekeeper to support their family. As a child, Woods lived in both Fairfield and Vacaville, which are in the North Bay area of California.
High School and West Point
Woods graduated with honors from Vanden High School in 1999. He was chosen by U.S. Representative Vic Fazio to attend the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. At West Point, he studied economics and political science. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2003.
Graduate Studies
After West Point, Woods continued his education. In 2008, he completed a Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. Later, he earned an executive Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Military Service and Community Work
Woods joined the United States Army as a second lieutenant in the Armor branch. He began his training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in July 2003. While there, he volunteered for his first deployment to Iraq. He led a group of National Guard soldiers.
First Deployment to Iraq
Woods served for eleven months in the Diyala province of Iraq. He returned to the U.S. in January 2005. After this, he was moved to Fort Carson, Colorado.
Second Deployment and Return
In June 2005, Woods went on his second deployment to Iraq. He served with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. After returning from this second deployment, the Army chose Woods to teach at West Point. This was a special opportunity for an officer of his rank. To prepare, he needed to earn a graduate degree first.
Harvard and Community Service
Woods enrolled at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. While studying for his master's degree, he volunteered a lot. He helped low-income students apply to college. He also co-founded the first student chapter of The Fuller Center for Housing.
Woods made three trips to New Orleans to help families. These families were working to rebuild their homes after Hurricane Katrina. For this important work, he and a group of students received the Robert F. Kennedy Public Service Award.
Bike & Build Trip
In the summer of 2007, Woods helped lead a group of thirty cyclists. They rode their bikes across the U.S. to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. This trip was part of a non-profit group called Bike & Build. They traveled from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to San Diego, California. The group raised over $130,000. They also helped build homes in five different states during their journey.
Before graduating in 2008, Woods was chosen to give a speech at Harvard's annual commencement ceremony. He was one of three students selected for this honor.
Leaving the Military
After graduation, Woods reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for further training. He later left the Army in December 2008. This was due to a government policy that has since been changed. Woods was asked to pay back the tuition for his Harvard degree.
In 2014, Woods rejoined the United States Army Reserve. He serves as a major in military intelligence.
Civilian Career and Public Service
After leaving active duty in the Army in 2008, Woods began a career in public service. He worked as an aide for Governor David Paterson of New York.
Running for Congress
On March 18, 2009, Woods announced he would run for Congress. He sought to replace Representative Ellen Tauscher in California's 10th congressional district. His campaign gained national attention. However, he did not win the special election held on September 1, 2009.
Work with Nonprofits and Government
After his campaign, Woods moved to Washington, D.C.. He worked for a nonprofit organization called Be the Change, Inc. He helped with their ServiceNation campaign. This campaign aimed to increase support for national service programs like the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps. He was the Director of the "Service as a Strategy" initiative. In this role, he helped develop volunteer-driven solutions for American cities.
In 2011, Woods was selected as a White House Fellow. During this time, he worked at the United States Office of Personnel Management.
Secretary of Veterans and Military Families
On January 12, 2023, Maryland Governor-elect Wes Moore nominated Anthony Woods for a new role. He was chosen to be the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. The Maryland Senate approved his nomination unanimously on February 17.
Images for kids
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Woods and Governor Wes Moore in March 2023
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See also
- Sexual orientation and the United States military
