Wes Moore
Encyclopedia
Wes Moore is an author, businessman and US Army veteran. He currently works as an associate for Citigroup
in New York City
.
. After failing in private school, Moore was sent to military school in Pennsylvania and graduated as Regimental Commander and class president. It is reported that Moore tried to escape 20 times in five days. Moore graduated Phi Theta Kappa
from Valley Forge Military College
in 1998 and Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University
in 2001. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity (initiated into the Sigma Sigma Chapter). Moore completed a Masters of Letters in International Relations from the University of Oxford
as a Rhodes Scholar
in 2004. He is recognized as an authority on the rise and ramifications of radical Islamism in the Western Hemisphere.
during 2006–2007, Moore served as a Special Assistant to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
. Moore later joined Citigroup in New York, focusing on global technology and alternative investments.
In 2000, as Moore was preparing to attend Oxford, he learned of another young man named Wes Moore who was just two years older, lived in the same neighborhood, and was heading to prison for life for the murder of an off-duty Baltimore police officer. He wrote to the other Wes Moore, and much to his surprise, received a letter back. Through visits with him in prison, and conversations with his family and friends, Moore discovered parallels between their lives. Moore's book, The Other Wes Moore, released in 2010, is based on these interactions.
Moore serves on the board of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
(IAVA), the Johns Hopkins University
Board of Trustees, the Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Board of Trustees, and the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Board of Trustees. He also founded STAND! through Johns Hopkins, which works with Baltimore youth involved in the criminal justice system. Moore was also a featured speaker at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
in Denver and addressed the crowd from Invesco Field. He has also spoken at the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Business Plan Competition, Southern Regional Conference of the National Society of Educators, the education reform session of the third annual Race & Reconciliation in America conference, and the first 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Citigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Early life and education
Moore was born in Maryland in 1979. When he was three years old, his father died in front of him of acute epiglottitisEpiglottitis
Epiglottitis is an inflammation of the epiglottis - the flap that sits at the base of the tongue, which keeps food from going into the trachea . Due to its place in the airway, swelling of this structure can interfere with breathing and constitutes a medical emergency...
. After failing in private school, Moore was sent to military school in Pennsylvania and graduated as Regimental Commander and class president. It is reported that Moore tried to escape 20 times in five days. Moore graduated Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa, also ΦΘΚ or sometimes PTK , is the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs, particularly community colleges and junior colleges. It also includes Associate's degree-granting programs offered by four-year colleges...
from Valley Forge Military College
Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Valley Forge Military Academy & College is an American all male preparatory boarding school and coeducational junior college in the military school tradition...
in 1998 and Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 2001. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity (initiated into the Sigma Sigma Chapter). Moore completed a Masters of Letters in International Relations from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
as a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
in 2004. He is recognized as an authority on the rise and ramifications of radical Islamism in the Western Hemisphere.
Career
Moore was a paratrooper and Captain in the United States Army, serving a combat tour of duty in Afghanistan with the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division in 2005–2006. He was involved in managing the American strategic support plan for the Afghan Reconciliation Program, and analyzed the rise and ramifications of radical Islamism in the Western Hemisphere. As a White House FellowWhite House Fellows
The White House Fellows program was established by President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson in October 1964. President Johnson articulated that the mission of the program was "to give the Fellows first hand, high-level experience with the workings of the federal government and to increase...
during 2006–2007, Moore served as a Special Assistant to Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
. Moore later joined Citigroup in New York, focusing on global technology and alternative investments.
In 2000, as Moore was preparing to attend Oxford, he learned of another young man named Wes Moore who was just two years older, lived in the same neighborhood, and was heading to prison for life for the murder of an off-duty Baltimore police officer. He wrote to the other Wes Moore, and much to his surprise, received a letter back. Through visits with him in prison, and conversations with his family and friends, Moore discovered parallels between their lives. Moore's book, The Other Wes Moore, released in 2010, is based on these interactions.
Moore serves on the board of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America , is an advocacy group dedicated to United States veterans of the War in Iraq and War in Afghanistan. The group claims to be the nation's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars and has more than 200,000 Member Veterans...
(IAVA), the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
Board of Trustees, the Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Valley Forge Military Academy & College is an American all male preparatory boarding school and coeducational junior college in the military school tradition...
Board of Trustees, and the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Board of Trustees. He also founded STAND! through Johns Hopkins, which works with Baltimore youth involved in the criminal justice system. Moore was also a featured speaker at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
in Denver and addressed the crowd from Invesco Field. He has also spoken at the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Business Plan Competition, Southern Regional Conference of the National Society of Educators, the education reform session of the third annual Race & Reconciliation in America conference, and the first 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Published works
- The Other Wes Moore: One Name and Two Fates—A Story of Tragedy and Hope (Spiegel & Grau/Random House, 2010)
Awards and honors
- 2007: named to “Top 30 Leaders Under 30”, Ebony magazine
- 2009: named to “40 Under 40 Rising Stars”, Crain's New York Business
- 2010: starred review, Publishers Weekly
- 2010: he was a recipient of the "Veterans Leadership Award," Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of AmericaIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of AmericaIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America , is an advocacy group dedicated to United States veterans of the War in Iraq and War in Afghanistan. The group claims to be the nation's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars and has more than 200,000 Member Veterans...
External links
- Speaking Profile Wes Moore's profile and lecture topics on the Random House Speakers Bureau
- The Other Wes Moore Official book page for The Other Wes Moore
- The Loop21.com's Interview with Wes Moore