Congresswoman Heather Wilson

Biography

Heather Wilson

New Mexico's Congresswoman

Heather Wilson has served the citizens of New Mexico's First Congressional District since June 23, 1998.

Read In her own words: Beginnings to learn more about Heather.

Congresswoman Wilson serves on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over issues important to the 1st District including energy, public health, telecommunications and hazardous materials.

Congresswoman Wilson serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Chairs its Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence. Wilson's Subcommittee has responsibility for all technical intelligence disciplines, including signals intelligence, imaging intelligence, technical support to operations, and research and development.

For the 109th Congress, Congresswoman Wilson’s priorities continue to be:

Securing the jobs we have and growing new jobs;

Winning the war on terrorism;

Improving public education for our kids;

Improving health care;

and making our tax code simpler.

Congresswoman Wilson is the first woman since Georgia Lusk in 1948 to serve in Congress from New Mexico. Wilson is the only woman veteran currently in Congress, and the first Air Force Academy graduate in Congress. Her district is centered in Albuquerque, and includes Bernalillo and Torrance counties and parts of Santa Fe, Sandoval and Valencia counties.

A distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982, Heather was a Rhodes Scholar and earned her masters and doctoral degrees in international relations from Oxford University in England. As an Air Force officer she worked with our NATO allies and in the United Kingdom. After leaving the Air Force in 1989, she became Director for European Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council staff at the White House.

In 1991, Heather founded Keystone International Inc. in Albuquerque to work with senior executives in large American defense and scientific corporations with business development and program planning work in the United States and Russia.

Heather Wilson is married to Jay Hone, an Albuquerque attorney. They have one adult son, Scott Hone, and two younger children, Joshua and Caitlin Hone.

PERSONAL

Born: December 30, 1960

Education: BS United States Air Force Academy 1982
Rhodes Scholar, Oxford University: M.Phil. (1984), and D.Phil. (1985) International Relations

Family: Husband: Jay Hone; Children: Adult son Scott and Joshua and Caitlin

Home: Albuquerque, NM

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

United States Air Force 1978-1989

Director for European Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council Staff 1989-1991

Founder Keystone International Inc. 1991-1995

Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department 1995-1998

CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality

Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials

Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Chair, Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence

Republican Policy Committee

Chair, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs

CONGRESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Air Force Caucus

Congressional Internet Caucus

Wireless Telecommunications Caucus

Western Caucus

Rural Health Care Coalition

Reserve Components Caucus

AWARDS

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Free Enterprise Award, 2000

Information Technology Industry Council Perfect Vote Score, 2000

Watchdog of the Treasury “Golden Bulldog” Award, 2000

NFIB "Guardian of Small Business Award," 2000

The Seniors Coalition Senior Legislative Achievement Award, 2000

Hero of the Taxpayer Award, 1999

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Kiwanis Club

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Children’s Congress Congressional Committee

Honorary Board Member of the Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research

Honorary Board Member of the UNM ROTC Alumni Association

Honorary Board Member of the UNM Naval ROTC Alumni Association

Honorary Board Member of the NM Women's Summit 2000

Honorary Board Member of the Scouting Leadership Council

Honorary Board Member of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council

Honorary Board Member of the Greater Albuquerque's Promise (The Alliance for Youth)

Honorary Board Member of the Quality New Mexico