Wes Moore is the 63rd Governor of Maryland, serving since January 2023. He is the first Black governor in the state’s 246-year history and one of only three African Americans elected governor in U.S. history. Born on October 15, 1978, in Takoma Park, Maryland, Moore attended Valley Forge Military Academy and College before earning a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. He was the first Black Rhodes Scholar from Johns Hopkins and later earned a master’s degree in international relations from Oxford University.
Moore’s career has spanned public service, business, and the military. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army, leading soldiers in combat during a deployment to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. After returning, he was a White House Fellow, advising on national security and international relations. Moore is also a bestselling author, best known for his book “The Other Wes Moore,” which explores issues of opportunity and inequality in America. He founded BridgeEdU, a company supporting underserved students in their transition to college, and served as CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty organizations, from 2017 to 2021.
Elected governor in 2022, Moore ran on a platform focused on economic opportunity, education, and equity. His administration has prioritized reducing child poverty, investing in public education, and supporting the middle class. Under his leadership, Maryland has seen record investments in schools, a reduction in child poverty, and a notable drop in unemployment. Moore has also taken steps to address public safety, with homicides in Baltimore reaching their lowest levels in decades. His administration responded swiftly to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024, reopening the Port of Baltimore ahead of schedule.
Moore’s national profile has grown, with some Democrats considering him a potential future presidential contender. He continues to be recognized for his efforts to address inequality and expand opportunity in Maryland.