Full Biography
Tom Rooney was raised in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Following high school, he went on to play college football at Syracuse University and Washington and Jefferson College. After receiving his BA in English Literature, Tom worked for Senator Connie Mack in Washington, DC. 
Tom returned home to Florida to attend the University of Florida where he received a Masters Degree and the University of Miami, School of Law where he earned his J.D. and met his wife Tara.
After graduation, Tom and Tara spent over four years in the United States Army JAG Corps. Most notably he served as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney on Fort Hood, TX prosecuting all civilian crimes on post. In 2002, Tom was selected to teach Constitutional and Criminal Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
In 2004, Tom returned to Florida and went to work as an Assistant Attorney General. After leaving the Attorney General's office, he became CEO of "The Children's Place at Home Safe," a home for abused and neglected children. He was later appointed by Governor Bush to the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County Board of Directors. In 2006, Tom entered private practice and joined a Stuart law firm.
On November 4th 2008, Tom was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents Florida's 17th district. He sits on the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee's on Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and State and Foreign Operations. He is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and serves as Chairman of the Intelligence Subcommittee on Emerging Threats. He also serves as a Deputy Whip for the Majority.
Tom and Tara live in Okeechobee with their three young sons: Tommy Jr., Sean, and Seamus.