Chris Carney

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Chris Carney bigraphy, stories - American politician

Chris Carney : biography

March 2, 1959 –

Christopher P. "Chris" Carney (born March 2, 1959) is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was a prominent member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition.

The district, located in northeastern Pennsylvania, includes Lackawanna and Luzerne counties outside of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre (communities such as Clarks Summit, Kingston, and the Back Mountain towns of Trucksville, Shavertown, and Dallas) as well as all or most of Bradford, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Union, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

Carney is also an associate professor of political science at Penn State Worthington Scranton, where he has taught since 1992. In 2011, he was appointed as director of homeland security and policy strategy for BAE Systems.National Journal (2011). . Retrieved August 20, 2011.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

  • Committee on Homeland Security
    • Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight (Chairman)
  • Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
    • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
    • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management

In January 2007, Carney was named Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, a surprising achievement for a freshman Congressman.

Personal life

Carney lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their five children in Dimock Township in Susquehanna County.

Early life, education and career

Carney earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, received his masters from the University of Wyoming, and completed his Ph.D in political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Carney has been an associate professor of political science at Penn State Worthington Scranton since 1992.

From 2002 to 2004, Carney served as a counterterrorism analyst for the Bush administration, under Douglas Feith in the Office of Special Plans and at the Defense Intelligence Agency, researching links between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.[https://ssl.tnr.com/p/docsub.mhtml?i=20060403&s=ackerman040306 ]

Military service

A Commander (select) in the United States Naval Reserve, Carney served multiple tours overseas and was activated for operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. He was direct commissioned as an Ensign in 1995. He served as Senior Terrorism and Intelligence Advisor at the Pentagon.

He is the recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Joint Service Achievement Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. His awards also include the Naval Rifle Marksman ribbon and the Naval Pistol Expert Medal.

In September 2007, Congressman Carney went on active duty with the Navy for his two weeks of service as a Lt. Commander in the reserves. On active duty, Carney will be working on the "Predator" project near Norfolk, VA.

In July 2008, Carney was promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander (select) in the Naval Reserve. He was one of just two members of the House to serve in the military reserves.

During his unsuccessful 2010 re-election campaign Carney revealed that he had served as an interrogator at Guantanamo.

Carol Rosenberg, writing in the Miami Herald, wrote that although Carney had traveled with fellow Congressional Representatives on fact-finding trips to Guantanamo, he had never informed them that he himself had served there.

Political positions

While opposing proposals to privatize Social Security, he said he is open to the idea of adding private accounts in addition to (not at the expense of) traditional defined benefits. He supports federal investment in stem cell research, and is an advocate of universal healthcare. He supports gun rights, identifies as pro-life and opposes gay marriage.