Yale

John F. Kerry was a three-sport athlete for Yale, as a player on the soccer, hockey and lacrosse teams. After graduating, Kerry served his country in the Vietnam War as an officer in the United States Navy. Upon conclusion of his military service, he was honored with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.

Post-war, Kerry became a co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans of American and a spokesperson for the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He became a nationally prominent figure almost overnight in 1971 when he testified before the United States Senate on the purpose and execution of the war

Kerry graduated Boston College Law School and became a prosecutor and then lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. In 1984, he was elected Senator of Massachusetts and re-elected four times afterwards (1990,1996 ,2002, 2008).

As the Democratic party’s presidential nominee in 2004, Kerry has developed a reputation as an authority on foreign policy and became Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2009 to 2013. As the U.S Secretary of State under President Obama, Kerry went on to broker the 2015 Paris Climate Accord and helped to establish the Global Connect initiative that provided internet access to 1.5 billion people around the world. 

Over the years, Kerry authored multiple books including, The New War: The Web of Crime that Threatens America’s Security (1997), A Call to Service (2003), and with his wife, This moment on Earth: Today’s New Environmentalist and Their Vision for the Future (2007). He recently published a memoir Every Day is Extra in 2018.