Anthony Woods
Encyclopedia
Anthony “Tony” Christopher Woods (born July 20, 1980) is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
, who was discharged from the United States Army
in 2008 for violating the military's "Don't ask, don't tell
" policy. He subsequently ran for U.S. Congress in California's 10th congressional district
to fill a vacant seat, in a bid to become the first openly-gay African American in Congress. He lost that bid, receiving 8% of a special election vote on September 1, 2009.
in the 10th Congressional District, Woods was raised by a single mother who supported her family as a small business owner and housekeeper. As a child, Woods lived in both Fairfield and Vacaville in the East Bay region of California. He graduated with honors from Vanden High School in 1999. Woods attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after graduation, having received a nomination from Congressman Vic Fazio (D CA-3).
While at West Point, he played sprint football in the fall and ran indoor and outdoor track in winter and spring. He majored in economics and political science, and graduated in 2003. In addition to his double major, he completed an engineering concentration (minor) in computer science.
In his last two years at the Academy, he was a representative on the cadet honor committee and commander of summer training for the rising yearling (sophomore) class.
Woods was commissioned in the Army as a second lieutenant in the Armor branch and began the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky in July 2003. While there, he volunteered for his first deployment to Iraq to lead a platoon of National Guard soldiers. Woods deployed to the Diyala province of Iraq, where he served for eleven months.
Woods returned from this deployment to the U.S. in January, 2005 and was transferred from Fort Bragg to Fort Carson, Colorado
. Later that year, in June, 2005, he made his second deployment to Iraq with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Upon return from his second deployment, the Army selected Woods to teach at West Point, an unusual appointment for so junior an officer and one which would require him to earn a graduate degree first. He earned a place to study public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
.
While at Harvard, Woods volunteered to mentor low-income minorities applying to college and numerous other community leadership activities, including co-founding the first student chapter of the Fuller Center for Housing, and making three trips to New Orleans to assist families struggling to rebuild following Hurricane Katrina
. For this work, he was among a group of students awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Public Service Award.
During the summer of 2007, Woods co-led a group of thirty cyclists across the U.S. to raise money for Habitat for Humanity through a non-profit group known as Bike & Build. The trip took them from the Outer Banks of North Carolina
to San Diego, California
. The group raised over $130,000 and built homes in five different states during the course of the trip across the United States.
Prior to graduation in 2008, Woods competed to speak at Harvard’s annual commencement and was one of three students chosen to give a commencement speech.
Shortly after graduation, Woods reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky for the Armor Captain's Career Course. Shortly thereafter, Woods outed himself as a homosexual, and was subsequently discharged under the government's “Don't ask, don't tell
” policy. For this decision, Woods was ordered to reimburse the Army for the $35,000 tuition. In December 2008, the U.S. Army completed the discharge process for Woods.
of New York. It is unclear whether he started his work for Governor Paterson before or after his discharge of the Army. Following completion of his work in New York, Woods was hired as a senior economic and business analysis consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton
.
(D-CA), who was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Woods's bid to become the first openly gay African-American elected to Congress ended when he lost a special election held on September 1, 2009, receiving under 9 percent of the vote.
Woods is now based in Washington, D.C.
, works for the nonprofit, Be the Change, Inc. and works on the ServiceNation campaign.
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, who was discharged from the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 2008 for violating the military's "Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
" policy. He subsequently ran for U.S. Congress in California's 10th congressional district
California's 10th congressional district
California's 10th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California in the East San Francisco Bay Area region of Northern California....
to fill a vacant seat, in a bid to become the first openly-gay African American in Congress. He lost that bid, receiving 8% of a special election vote on September 1, 2009.
Early life
Born on July 20,1980 at Travis Air Force BaseTravis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
in the 10th Congressional District, Woods was raised by a single mother who supported her family as a small business owner and housekeeper. As a child, Woods lived in both Fairfield and Vacaville in the East Bay region of California. He graduated with honors from Vanden High School in 1999. Woods attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after graduation, having received a nomination from Congressman Vic Fazio (D CA-3).
Military career (2003 – 2008)
In his last two years at the Academy, he was a representative on the cadet honor committee and commander of summer training for the rising yearling (sophomore) class.
Woods was commissioned in the Army as a second lieutenant in the Armor branch and began the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky in July 2003. While there, he volunteered for his first deployment to Iraq to lead a platoon of National Guard soldiers. Woods deployed to the Diyala province of Iraq, where he served for eleven months.
Woods returned from this deployment to the U.S. in January, 2005 and was transferred from Fort Bragg to Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson is a United States Army installation located near Colorado Springs, primarily in El Paso County, Colorado. It is north of Pueblo, Colorado in Pueblo County. The 137,000 acre installation extends south into Pueblo and Fremont counties...
. Later that year, in June, 2005, he made his second deployment to Iraq with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
While at Harvard, Woods volunteered to mentor low-income minorities applying to college and numerous other community leadership activities, including co-founding the first student chapter of the Fuller Center for Housing, and making three trips to New Orleans to assist families struggling to rebuild following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. For this work, he was among a group of students awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Public Service Award.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The group raised over $130,000 and built homes in five different states during the course of the trip across the United States.
Prior to graduation in 2008, Woods competed to speak at Harvard’s annual commencement and was one of three students chosen to give a commencement speech.
Shortly after graduation, Woods reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky for the Armor Captain's Career Course. Shortly thereafter, Woods outed himself as a homosexual, and was subsequently discharged under the government's “Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
” policy. For this decision, Woods was ordered to reimburse the Army for the $35,000 tuition. In December 2008, the U.S. Army completed the discharge process for Woods.
2008 – 2009
Woods worked for the staff of Governor David PatersonDavid Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
of New York. It is unclear whether he started his work for Governor Paterson before or after his discharge of the Army. Following completion of his work in New York, Woods was hired as a senior economic and business analysis consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. , or more commonly Booz Allen, is an American public consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with 80 other offices throughout the United States. Ralph Shrader is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was founded by Edwin Booz in...
.
2009 – Present
On March 18, 2009, Woods declared his intentions to replace Rep. Ellen TauscherEllen Tauscher
Ellen O'Kane Tauscher is an American politician and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs...
(D-CA), who was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Woods's bid to become the first openly gay African-American elected to Congress ended when he lost a special election held on September 1, 2009, receiving under 9 percent of the vote.
Woods is now based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, works for the nonprofit, Be the Change, Inc. and works on the ServiceNation campaign.
External links
- Anthony Woods for Congress, Official Campaign Website