Learn about the officials, present and past, who have led the Department of Education and have built its reputation for excellence and innovation in education.
Biographies of Current Officials
Political Appointees in the Trump-Vance Administration
View biographies for political appointees in the Trump-Vance administration at the U.S. Department of Education.
List of Biographies of Senior Officials Throughout ED
Find easy access to information about senior officials working throughout ED.
Mark Schneider
Meet the Director, Institute of Education Sciences
David J. Cantrell
David J. Cantrell, Ph.D., serves as the deputy director in the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) within OSERS.
Biographies of Former Officials
Dr. Miguel Cardona
Dr. Miguel Cardona was the 12th U.S. Secretary of Education.
Cindy Marten
Cynthia "Cindy" Marten was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Deputy Secretary on May 11, 2021.
James Kvaal
James Kvaal was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Under Secretary of Education on September 14, 2021.
Betsy DeVos
Betsy DeVos served as the 11th U.S. Secretary of Education.
Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan was the ninth U.S. secretary of education.
Eugene W. Hickok
Dr. Eugene W. Hickok was the United States Deputy Secretary of Education appointed to the position by President Bush on April 19, 2004.
Martha J. Kanter
Martha J. Kanter was nominated by President Barack Obama on April 29, 2009, to be the under secretary of education.
John B. King, Jr.
John B. King, Jr. became the secretary of education on March 14, 2016.
Sara Martinez Tucker
Sara Martinez Tucker was nominated to her post by President George W. Bush on Sept. 5, 2006 as the under secretary of education.
Edward R. McPherson
Edward R. McPherson was appointed the under secretary of education in April 2004 by President Bush.
Anthony Wilder Miller
Tony Miller was appointed as the deputy secretary and chief operating officer at the U.S. Department of Education in 2009.
Ted Mitchell
Ted Mitchell was nominated by President Barack Obama the under secretary of education and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 8, 2014.
Rod Paige
President Bush picked Rod Paige to be the Secretary of Education in 2001.
James H. Shelton, III
Jim Shelton was the deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.
Raymond Simon
President Bush nominated Raymond Simon to the position of United States Deputy Secretary of Education and the Senate confirmed him on May 26, 2005.
Margaret Spellings
Margaret Spellings was the U.S. Secretary of Education.
Judith A. Winston
Judith A. Winston was sworn in as General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Education in June 1993.
Dr. Mitchell M. Zais
Mitchell "Mick" Zais nominated by President Donald J. Trump on Oct. 5, 2017 as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.