Who’s Who in Defense: Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair, SASC Personnel Subcommittee – Breaking Defense Breaking Defense

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York

Responsibilities

Gillibrand chairs a subcommittee with jurisdiction over matters relating to DoD military and civilian personnel policy, including military health care, education, compensation and benefits.

Legislative Committees / Caucuses / Bills

Member of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forests Committee.
Chair of the Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems and Food Safety Committee and Security subcommittee.
Member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Sub-Committee.
Member of Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics and Research Subcommittee.
Member of the commodities, risk management and trade sub-committee.
Co-sponsored law on improving military justice and increasing prevention of 2021 which would remove sexual assault cases from military jurisdiction.

Political / professional career

Member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2009.
Selected as New York State Senator after Hillary Clinton left the seat to accept an appointment as Secretary of State from President Barack Obama in 2009.
Won a special election in 2010 to retain the Senate position. Re-elected in full terms in 2012 and 2018.
Ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Re-election in 2024.

Education

Staff

Born Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik on December 9, 1966 in Albany, NY. Grew up in New York.
Married to British venture capitalist Jonathan Gillibrand in 2001. They have two sons.
Her father, Douglas Rutnick, was a lawyer and lobbyist. His mother, Polly Noonan Rutnik, also worked in law. His maternal grandmother, Dorothea “Polly” Noonan, was involved in Albany politics. Two siblings.