Tom Carper

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Tom Carper
Official portrait, 2012
United States Senator from Delaware
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2001 Serving with Chris Coons
Preceded by	William Roth
Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office February 3, 2021
Preceded by	John Barrasso
Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee
In office January 3, 2017 – February 3, 2021
Preceded by	Barbara Boxer
Succeeded by	Shelley Moore Capito
Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Joe Lieberman
Succeeded by	Ron Johnson
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office August 4, 1998 – August 10, 1999
Preceded by	George Voinovich
Succeeded by	Mike Leavitt
71st Governor of Delaware
In office January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001
Lieutenant	Ruth Ann Minner
Preceded by	Dale E. Wolf
Succeeded by	Ruth Ann Minner
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Tom Evans
Succeeded by	Mike Castle
Treasurer of Delaware
In office January 18, 1977 – January 3, 1983
Governor	Pete du Pont
Preceded by	Mary Jornlin
Succeeded by	Janet Rzewnicki
Personal details
Born	Thomas Richard Carper (1947-01-23) January 23, 1947 (age 77) Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Diane Isaacs ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1983)​ Martha Stacy ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	2
Education	Ohio State University (BA) University of Delaware (MBA)
Signature
Website	Senate website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1968–1991
Rank	Captain
Unit	Naval Flight Officer Navy Reserve
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Tom Carper's voice Tom Carper on his support for the nomination of Rita Landgraf to be HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Recorded July 19, 2021

Thomas Richard Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the senior United States senator from Delaware, having held the seat since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Carper served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993 and was the 71st governor of Delaware from 1993 to 2001.

A native of Beckley, West Virginia, Carper graduated from Ohio State University. Serving as a naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he flew the P-3 Orion as a tactical coordinator and mission commander^[1] and saw active duty in the Vietnam War. After leaving the active duty Navy, he remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve for another 18 years and eventually retired with the rank of Captain (O-6). Upon receiving his MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975, Carper went to work for the state of Delaware in its economic development office. He was elected state treasurer, serving from 1977 to 1983 and leading the development of Delaware's first cash management system.

Encouraged by local politicians, Carper successfully ran for Delaware's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. He served five terms in the House, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In 1992, he swapped positions with term-limited Republican Governor Mike Castle, and the two were easily elected to each other's seats. Carper governed for two terms as a moderate, business-oriented New Democrat, following the lead of the two previous Republican governors.

Carper was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, defeating Republican incumbent William Roth. He was reelected by landslides in 2006, 2012, and 2018. He serves as one of four deputy Democratic whips, the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee. Carper is the senior senator in Delaware's congressional delegation and the dean of the delegation. He is the last Vietnam War veteran to serve in the Senate.