# Jack Reed ## Summary U.S. Senator from Rhode Island since 1997 — the senior senator from Rhode Island and among the Senate's most senior Democrats. [[Senate Armed Services Committee]] Chair (2021–2025); now Ranking Member under Republican majority. U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate (1971); former Army Ranger captain (82nd Airborne). Harvard Law (JD 1982). Born November 12, 1949. ## Career highlights - West Point (BS 1971) - Harvard Kennedy School (MPP 1973) - Harvard Law School (JD 1982) - U.S. Army (1971–1979) — Ranger, captain, 82nd Airborne - Attorney, Sullivan & Worcester (1982–1990) - Rhode Island State Senate (1985–1991) - U.S. House of Representatives (RI-02, 1991–1997) - U.S. Senate (1997–present); re-elected 2002, 2008 (unopposed), 2014, 2020 (66.6%) ## Senate career - Armed Services Committee Chair (2021–2023, 2023–2025 intermittent under D majority) - Ranking Member Armed Services under R majority - Appropriations Committee — Defense Subcommittee - Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee - Principal Senate Democratic voice on defense policy, procurement, and veterans issues - Institutional-centrist profile; rarely in media spotlight; legislative-substance focus ## 2026: running for sixth term See [[RI-Sen-2026]]. Cook Solid D. No tier-one Republican filed. At age 76 (will be 77 on election day), Reed's sixth term would run through 2032. Age and succession signals worth monitoring but none indicated as of April 2026. ## Related KB entities - [[RI-Sen-2026]] — his 2026 race ## Sources - [Wikipedia — Jack Reed (RI politician)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Reed_(Rhode_Island_politician))