BARRASSO, John A., a Senator from Wyoming; born on July 21, 1952, in Reading, Penn.; graduated Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., B.S. 1974; graduated Georgetown University School of Medicine, M.D. 1978; residency at Yale Medical School, New Haven, Conn.; orthopedic surgeon, private practice; chief of staff of the Wyoming Medical Center, Casper, Wyo.; Wyoming State senate 2002-2007; appointed to the United States Senate on June 22, 2007, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Craig L. Thomas; took the oath of office on June 25, 2007; elected in 2008 in a special election for the term ending January 3, 2013.