Governor of Iowa from 1983-1999. He served four consecutive four-year terms as chief executive of the state of Iowa.
Leadership roles include:
Chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA) (1989).
Chairman of the Republican Governors Association (1997).
Chairman of the Education Commission of the States (1998).
A former attorney and farmer, Governor Branstad served in the U.S. Army from 1969-71 and received the Army Commendation Medal.
The Governor earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Iowa in 1969 and a Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School in 1974.