Kristi Noem assumed office as secretary of homeland security on January 25, 2025. She previously served as governor of South Dakota from 2019-2025 as the first woman to serve of governor of that state. Noem served as the U.S. representative for South Dakota’s at-large congressional district from 2011-2019.

Noem was born November 30, 1971, in South Dakota. While she was attending college at Northern State University in Aberdeen, Noem’s father’s death in a farming accident forced her to return to home to run the family’s ranch. While serving in Congress, Noem took classes at South Dakota State University and in 2011, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

In 2006, Noem was elected as the 6th District representative to the South Dakota House of Representatives, a position she held until she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.

For information on Noem’s policy subject areas, committee appointments and sponsored/co-sponsored legislation during her time in the U.S. House of Representatives, please visit her profile on https://www.congress.gov. Served on FirstNet 2025