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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Westley Watende Omari Moore (born October 15, 1978) is an American politician, businessman, and author. He is also a former U.S. Army officer. Since 2023, he has served as the 63rd governor of Maryland.
Moore was born in Maryland but grew up mostly in New York. He studied at Johns Hopkins University and later earned a master's degree from Wolfson College, Oxford. He was able to study there as a Rhodes Scholar. After serving in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, he worked as an investment banker.
Between 2010 and 2015, Moore wrote five books, including a novel for young adults. From 2017 to 2021, he was the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation. This group works to help people living in poverty. Moore also hosted a TV show called Beyond Belief on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). He was also a writer and producer for Coming Back with Wes Moore on PBS.
Moore is a member of the Democratic Party. He won the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election. This made him Maryland's first African-American governor. He is also the third African-American person elected governor of any U.S. state.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Moore was born in Takoma Park, Maryland in 1978. His father, William Westley Moore Jr., was a journalist. His mother, Joy Thomas Moore, was also a news media professional. Her parents were immigrants from Cuba and Jamaica.
When Moore was three years old, in 1982, his father passed away. In 1984, his mother moved him and his two sisters to the Bronx, New York. They lived there with her parents. His grandmother, Winell Thomas, was a retired schoolteacher. His grandfather, James Thomas, was the first Black minister in the Dutch Reformed Church.
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.
College and Military Service
In 1998, Moore graduated from Valley Forge with an associate degree. He also completed the requirements for the U.S. Army's early commissioning program. He became a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve.
He then attended Johns Hopkins University. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in international relations and economics. At Johns Hopkins, he played football for two seasons. He also interned for Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke. Later, he interned at the United States Department of Homeland Security.
After graduating, he went to Wolfson College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He earned a master's degree in international relations in 2004. He was called to active duty in the Army after the September 11 attacks. From 2005 to 2006, he served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. He reached the rank of captain. 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. He worked at Deutsche Bank and Citibank from 2007 to 2012.
In 2010, Moore started a TV production company called Omari Productions. This company created shows for networks like the Oprah Winfrey Network and PBS. In 2014, he produced a PBS series called Coming Back with Wes Moore. This series 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. He also launched 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 people in New York City who are experiencing poverty. During his time as CEO, the organization raised over $650 million. This included $230 million in 2020 to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Books by Wes Moore
Moore has written several books.
- His first book, The Other Wes Moore, was published in 2010. It tells the story of two young boys from Baltimore with the same name. Their lives took very different paths.
- In 2013, he published Discovering Wes Moore. This book shares the same message as The Other Wes Moore but is written for young adults.
- His third book, The Work, came out in 2015.
- In 2016, he wrote This Way Home, a young adult novel. It's about a high school basketball player named Elijah.
- 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 the viewpoints of eight people who were there.
Political Involvement
Moore first showed interest in politics in 1996. He told a reporter he planned to go to law school and enter politics. In 2008, he gave a speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention to support Barack Obama.
In 2015, after the 2015 Baltimore protests, Moore said the protests were "a long time coming." He felt Baltimore needed to use that moment to fix problems. In 2017, Governor Larry Hogan nominated Moore to join the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. In 2021, he worked with Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne A. Jones. They worked on her "black agenda" to address racial inequalities.
Addressing Past Issues
In 2013, a newspaper reported that Moore had not properly received property tax credits. Moore said he was unaware of the issue and paid what he owed. In 2022, another report stated he had unpaid water and sewage bills. He settled these bills soon after the report.
In 2024, a newspaper reported that Moore had incorrectly stated he received the Bronze Star Medal on a 2006 application. Moore called it an "honest mistake." His commanding officer had suggested he include it, believing Moore had earned it and that the paperwork was being processed. Moore expressed regret for the error and for not correcting interviewers. His commanding officer resubmitted the paperwork, and Moore was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in December 2024.
Moore also had connections to various businesses. He stated that if elected governor, he would use a blind trust for his assets. This means an independent person manages his investments to avoid conflicts of interest. He also resigned from all board positions. In May 2023, Moore finalized his trust. In May 2025, he signed a law requiring future governors to use a blind trust or agree not to make decisions affecting their businesses.
Governor of Maryland
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In February 2021, Moore announced he was thinking about running for governor of Maryland. He officially started his campaign on June 7, 2021. His main message was about "work, wages, and wealth," and his slogan was "leave no one behind." His running mate was Aruna Miller.
During the primary election, Moore received support from many important figures. These included House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and television host Oprah Winfrey. He won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022. He defeated Tom Perez and Peter Franchot.
In the general election, Moore campaigned with U.S. President Joe Biden. He won against Republican nominee Dan Cox. This made him 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 on a Bible that belonged to abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and also on his grandfather's Bible. Before his inauguration, he visited the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial. This was to honor the journey that led him to become governor.
As governor, Moore has focused on several key areas. These include creating a "service year option" for high school graduates. He also wants to remove rules that make it hard to build new housing. He supports military families with health care benefits and tax cuts. He has also worked to change some decisions made by the previous governor.
Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse happened during Moore's time as governor. This event occurred in March 2024. After the collapse, Moore supported new laws to help workers and businesses. These laws provided financial aid due to the closure of the Port of Baltimore. Moore has also asked Congress to pass laws to make the federal government pay for rebuilding the bridge. In December 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill that included full funding for the bridge replacement.
Governor's Cabinet
Moore began choosing people for his cabinet in November 2022. His cabinet has 26 members. He finished announcing his choices in April 2023.
Twelve of Moore's cabinet members are women. Fourteen are people of color. They have different backgrounds in government, business, and charity work. Some members, like Russell Strickland and Roland Butler, also served in the previous governor's administration.
Moore chose Fagan Harris as his chief of staff. Harris co-founded the Baltimore Corps organization with Moore years ago. Moore also named three members of the Maryland General Assembly to his team. These included state senator Susan C. Lee as Secretary of State.
Personal Life
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Moore met his wife, Dawn Flythe, in 2002. They got married in Las Vegas in 2007. They have two children, born in 2011 and 2013.
The Moores lived in Baltimore before he became governor. They now live in Government House. This is the official home of the Maryland governor in Annapolis, Maryland.
Moore has received honorary degrees from several universities. He is a fan of the Baltimore Ravens football team and the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
Military Awards
Moore has received several military awards and badges, 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
In Spanish: Wes Moore para niños
