Chris Deschene facts for kids
Christopher L. Clark Deschene is an American leader, lawyer, and expert in energy. He is a member of the Navajo Nation. Deschene was a candidate for Secretary of State in Arizona in 2010. He also worked for the United States Department of Energy during the Barack Obama administration.
Quick facts for kids
Christopher Deschene
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| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 2nd district |
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| In office January 2009 – January 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Albert Tom |
| Succeeded by | Albert Hale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1970 (age 54–55) California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Washington, D.C. |
| Alma mater | U.S. Naval Academy (B.S.) Arizona State University (M.S.) Arizona State University (J.D.) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  Marine Corps |
Contents
About Christopher Deschene
Christopher Deschene was born in California in 1970. His family later moved to Arizona. He grew up in LeChee, Arizona, and went to high school in Page, Arizona.
Education and Military Service
After high school, Christopher attended the United States Naval Academy. He graduated in 1993 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then became a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
He served in the Marines on several missions overseas. These included places like the Persian Gulf and Southeast Asia. After his active duty, he continued to serve as a reservist for 10 years.
After his time in the Marines, Deschene continued his education. He earned a law degree from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. He also received a Master's degree in engineering from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
Christopher Deschene's grandfather was a Navajo code talker during World War II. These brave individuals used their language as a secret code.
Public Service and Energy Work
Christopher Deschene has had a long career in public service and energy. He helped start a law firm that focused on energy projects. He worked there for ten years.
Serving in Arizona
From 2009 to 2011, Deschene was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives. He represented District 2. In this role, he helped make laws for the state of Arizona.
He was part of committees that dealt with natural resources, water, and energy. Before this, he led the Democratic Party in Apache County, Arizona. He also chaired the Native American Democratic Caucus.
In 2010, he ran for Secretary of State in Arizona. This role often involves overseeing elections. He won the nomination for his party. However, he did not win the general election.
National and Tribal Roles
In 2015, Christopher Deschene ran for president of the Navajo Nation. This is the government of the Navajo people. However, he was later not allowed to continue because he needed to show he could speak the Navajo language fluently.
Later in 2015, Deschene joined the United States Department of Energy. He became the director for the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs. He worked to help Native American communities with their energy needs. He served in this role until the end of the Obama administration.
Since June 2017, he has been a partner at a law firm in Washington, D.C.. There, he continues to work on energy law.
