Dan Coats returned to the U.S. Senate in January 2011 to focus on cutting wasteful spending, reducing the national debt and promoting a pro-growth economic policy to put Hoosiers and Americans back to work. Senator Coats has dedicated much of his life to serving Indiana and the nation in a variety of roles.

After graduating from Wheaton College, Coats went on to serve in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, Coats attended the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where he received his J.D. and was associate editor of the Indiana Law Review. He went on to work for a life insurance company in Fort Wayne before joining the office of then-Congressman Dan Quayle as a district representative.

From 1981 to 1999, Coats served in the United States Congress, first in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate. During his time in Congress, Coats promoted policies to lower taxes, reduce spending and reform entitlement programs. He also served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence where he worked on ways to strengthen our national defense and security.

In keeping with a term-limits pledge he made to Hoosiers, Coats stepped down from his Senate seat in 1999. After leaving the Senate, he worked in the private sector with the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. In 2001, Coats was named Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, arriving in country only three days before the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As Ambassador, Coats played a critical role in establishing robust relations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and in the construction of a new United States Embassy in the heart of Berlin.

After his time as Ambassador, he worked at the law firm of King & Spalding and continued to be active in public service. Coats has served as President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and on the boards of many civic and volunteer organizations, including the Center for Jewish and Christian Values, which he co-chaired with Senator Joe Lieberman.

Senator Coats and his wife Marsha formed The Foundation For American Renewal to continue their engagement in faith-based initiatives. Coats received national recognition as the author and champion of the Project for American Renewal, a comprehensive initiative created to help resolve many of our nation's social problems.

In the 114th Congress, Coats serves on three Senate committees: Finance, Select Intelligence and the Joint Economic Committee (JEC). He serves as chairman of the bicameral JEC. Coats also is chairman of the Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure.

Coats is the first Hoosier to serve on the Senate Finance Committee since 1976. This important assignment allows Senator Coats to help tackle many of the biggest fiscal challenges our country is facing.  As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he is working on initiatives to strengthen our national security and protect Americans from terrorist threats. As JEC chairman, he is pushing for tax reform, spending cuts and fiscal restraint.

Dan and Marsha Coats met in college and have three adult children and ten grandchildren.