A Representative from Illinois; born in Bangkok, Thailand, March 12, 1968; graduated from President William McKinley High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1985; B.A., University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hawaii, 1989; M.A., The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1992; attended Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill.; Illinois Army National Guard, 1996-present; unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States House of Representatives in 2006; director, Illinois department of veterans affairs, 2006-2009; assistant secretary, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2009-2011; delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 2012; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress (January 3, 2013-present).