Chuck Hagel, born October 4, 1946, in North Platte, Nebraska, has spent a lifetime in public service. The son of a lumber yard manager and a secretary, Hagel grew up in a modest household that emphasized hard work and duty.
Early Life and Military Service
After graduating from high school, Hagel attended Wayne State College in 1964 before transferring to Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) following a football injury. He completed a B.A. in History at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1971. Hagel served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1968, attaining the rank of Sergeant and fighting with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam. Both he and his brother Tom earned five Purple Hearts between them, and each saved the other’s life during combat.
Broadcasting and Early Career
Following his military service, Hagel worked in radio as a newscaster, reporter, and talk‑show host. He entered politics as an administrative assistant to Republican U.S. Representative John McCollister of Nebraska from 1971 to 1977. Hagel then spent three years lobbying for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company before moving into federal administration as deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration (1981‑1982).
Business Leadership
Hagel’s private‑sector experience includes serving as deputy commissioner general for the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, and co‑founding the consulting firm Collins, Hagel & Clarke Inc. He later held executive roles at Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc., World United Service Organizations, the Private Sector Council in Washington, D.C., and the investment‑banking firm McCarthy & Co.
Congressional Service
In 1997, Hagel was elected U.S. Senator from Nebraska, a position he held for two terms until 2009. During his Senate tenure, he was known for his bipartisan approach and for championing veterans’ issues, reflecting his own service background.
Secretary of Defense
President Barack Obama nominated Hagel to be Secretary of Defense on January 7, 2013. After a contentious confirmation process, the Senate confirmed him on February 26, 2013, by a vote of 58‑41. Hagel’s tenure included a visit to Afghanistan in March 2013, during which a suicide bomber attacked the Afghan Ministry of Defense, killing nine and injuring 14. He stepped down in February 2015, as announced by President Obama in November 2014.
Post‑Government Work and Advocacy
After leaving the Pentagon, Hagel taught as a professor of National Governance at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (2009‑2013). In 2020, he publicly endorsed Joe Biden for president, arguing that the former vice president was the right person for the country at that moment, despite Hagel’s lifelong Republican affiliation. In 2022, he was appointed chair of the Veterans Justice Commission, a new effort by the Council on Criminal Justice to examine why many veterans end up incarcerated.
Personal Life
Hagel has been married to Lilibet Ziller since April 1985; they have two children, Allyn and Ziller. He is an Episcopalian and remains active in veteran and community organizations.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
