Wes Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wes Moore
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Official portrait, 2023
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| 63rd Governor of Maryland | |
| Assumed office January 18, 2023 |
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| Lieutenant | Aruna Miller |
| Preceded by | Larry Hogan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Westley Watende Omari Moore
October 15, 1978 Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Dawn Flythe
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Government House |
| Education | Valley Forge Military Academy and College (AA) Johns Hopkins University (BA) Wolfson College, Oxford (MLitt) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1998–2014 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 82nd Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards |
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Wes Moore (born October 15, 1978) is an American leader. He is a businessman, author, and military veteran. Since 2023, he has been the 63rd governor of Maryland.
Moore was born in Maryland but grew up mostly in New York. He studied at Johns Hopkins University. He also earned a master's degree from Wolfson College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. After serving in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, he worked in banking.
Between 2010 and 2015, Moore wrote five books. One of them was a novel for young adults. From 2017 to 2021, he was the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation. This group helps people living in poverty. Moore also hosted a TV show called Beyond Belief on the Oprah Winfrey Network. He was also a producer and writer for Coming Back with Wes Moore on PBS.
Moore is a member of the Democratic Party. He won the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election. He became Maryland's first African-American governor. He is also the third African-American person elected governor in any U.S. state.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Moore was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. His father, William Westley Moore Jr., was a news journalist. His mother, Joy Thomas Moore, was a media professional. Her parents came from Jamaica.
When Moore was almost four years old, his father passed away in 1982. In 1984, his mother moved him and his two sisters to the Bronx, New York. They lived with their grandparents. His grandfather, Rev. Dr. James Thomas, was a Jamaican immigrant. He was the first Black minister in the Dutch Reformed Church. His grandmother, Winell Thomas, was a retired teacher. She was Cuban and moved to Jamaica before coming to the U.S.
Moore went to Riverdale Country School. When his grades dropped and he got into some trouble, his mother sent him to Valley Forge Military Academy and College.
In 1998, Moore graduated from Valley Forge. He earned an associate degree. He also became a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve. He then attended Johns Hopkins University. There, he studied international relations and economics. He graduated in 2001. While at Hopkins, Moore played football for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays football team.
He also interned for Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke. Later, he worked at the United States Department of Homeland Security. After graduating, he became a Rhodes Scholar at Wolfson College, Oxford. He earned a master's degree in 2004. After the September 11 attacks, he was called to serve in the Army. He was sent to Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006. He became a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division. He left the Army in 2014.
Career Highlights
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In 2006, Moore was chosen as a White House Fellow. He worked for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Later, he worked as an investment banker in New York.
In 2010, Moore started a TV production company. It created shows for channels like Oprah Winfrey Network and PBS. In 2014, he produced a PBS series called Coming Back with Wes Moore. This show followed the lives of veterans returning home.
In 2014, Moore started BridgeEdU. This company helped students prepare for college. In 2019, another company bought BridgeEdU.
In 2016, Moore produced All the Difference, a PBS documentary. It showed the lives of two young African-American men from high school through college. He also started Future City, a talk show on Baltimore's WYPR radio station.
From 2017 to 2021, Moore was the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation. This charity helps fight poverty in New York City. It supports schools, food pantries, and shelters. During his time, the organization raised over $650 million. This included $230 million in 2020 to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Books by Wes Moore
On April 27, 2010, his first book, The Other Wes Moore, was published. This book tells the stories of two young boys from Baltimore named Wes Moore. They had similar backgrounds but very different lives. In 2012, it was announced that the book would become a movie. Oprah Winfrey was involved as a producer. In 2013, a version for young adults, Discovering Wes Moore, was released.
In 2015, Moore wrote his third book, The Work. In 2016, he wrote This Way Home, a young adult novel. It is about a high school basketball player. In 2020, Moore and Erica L. Green wrote Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City. This book looks at the 2015 Baltimore protests from different people's viewpoints.
Involvement in Politics
Moore first showed interest in politics in 1996. He told New York Times that he planned to go to law school and enter politics. In 2008, Moore spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He supported Barack Obama for president.
In 2015, after the 2015 Baltimore protests, Moore said the protests were "a long time coming." He felt Baltimore needed to fix its problems. He attended the funeral for Freddie Gray.
In 2017, Governor Larry Hogan asked Moore to join the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. In 2020, Moore was part of the team for Baltimore mayor-elect Brandon Scott. In 2021, he helped Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne A. Jones create her "Black agenda." This plan aimed to address racial inequalities.
Governor of Maryland
Becoming Governor
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In February 2021, Moore said he was thinking about running for governor of Maryland. He officially started his campaign on June 7, 2021. His main message was "work, wages, and wealth." His slogan was "leave no one behind." His running mate was Aruna Miller.
During the primary election, Moore received support from many leaders. These included House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and television host Oprah Winfrey. He also had backing from the Maryland State Education Association.
Moore won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022. He defeated other candidates like Tom Perez and Peter Franchot. In the general election, Moore campaigned with U.S. President Joe Biden. Moore won the election against Republican candidate Dan Cox. He became Maryland's first Black governor. He is also the first veteran to be elected governor since William Donald Schaefer.
Time as Governor
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Moore was sworn in as governor on January 18, 2023. He took his oath using a Bible that belonged to Frederick Douglass. He also used his grandfather's Bible. Before his inauguration, he honored the journey that led him to become governor.
As governor, Moore has spoken in favor of several of his administration's bills. This made him the first governor to do so since Martin O'Malley. His main goals include creating a "service year option" for high school graduates. He also wants to make it easier to build new homes. He supports military families with health care and job opportunities.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse happened during Moore's time as governor. He supported laws to help workers and businesses affected by the closure of the Port of Baltimore. Moore has asked Congress to have the federal government pay for rebuilding the bridge.
Governor's Team
Moore started announcing his team of advisors, called his cabinet, in November 2022. He finished naming his cabinet members in April 2023. Many of his team members have experience in government or helping communities.
Twelve of Moore's cabinet choices are women. Fourteen are people of color. Some members, like Russell Strickland and Roland Butler, also served in the previous governor's team.
Moore chose Fagan Harris as his chief of staff. Harris co-founded an organization with Moore years ago. Moore also brought in three members from the Maryland General Assembly. These included state senator Paul G. Pinsky and state senator Susan C. Lee.
Personal Life
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Moore met Dawn Flythe in Washington, D.C. in 2002. They moved to Baltimore in 2006. They got married in Las Vegas in 2007. They have two children, born in 2011 and 2013.
The Moores lived in Baltimore until he was elected governor in 2022. They now live in Government House. This is the official home for the Maryland governor in Annapolis, Maryland.
Moore has received an honorary degree from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. His ancestor, Prince Ames, served in the Revolutionary War.
Military Awards
Moore has received several military awards and medals, including:
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal
- Army Service Ribbon
- Bronze Star Medal
- Combat Action Badge
- National Defense Service Medal
- Parachutist Badge
Images for kids
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Wes Moore's signature
See also
