Mike Turner

Mike Turner
Born	Michael Ray Turner 11 1, 1960
Birthplace	Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Education	Ohio Northern University (BA) Case Western Reserve University (JD) University of Dayton (MBA) Georgetown University (DLS)
Children	2
Website	[turner.house.gov Official site]

Michael Ray Turner (born January 11, 1960) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the U.S. representative from Ohio's 10th congressional district since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Turner previously represented Ohio's 3rd congressional district from 2003 to 2013 and served as the 53rd Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 1994 to 2002. Over more than three decades in public life, Turner has established himself as a figure in national security policy and international affairs. He served as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2014 to 2016, and was a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2022 to 2025, chairing the committee from January 2023 to January 2025. Turner has also been a consistent voice on matters relating to the Western Balkans, defense authorization legislation, and transatlantic security alliances.

Early Life

Michael Ray Turner was born on January 11, 1960, in Dayton, Ohio, where he was raised and would later build his political career. Dayton, a mid-sized city in southwestern Ohio's Montgomery County, has long served as a center of manufacturing, aerospace, and military activity, anchored by the nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Turner's upbringing in this environment would later inform his sustained interest in defense policy and military affairs during his time in Congress.

Details regarding Turner's parents and family background during his formative years are limited in publicly available sources. What is documented is that Turner remained rooted in the Dayton area throughout his education and early professional life, developing deep ties to the community that would later serve as the foundation of his political career.

Education

Turner pursued an extensive course of higher education across four institutions. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Northern University, a private university in Ada, Ohio. He then obtained a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio, qualifying him to practice law. Turner later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Dayton, a private Catholic university in his hometown. He subsequently completed a Doctor of Law and Society (DLS) from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. This combination of legal, business, and policy training provided the academic foundation for Turner's dual career in law and public service.

Career

Legal Career

Before entering politics, Turner practiced law in the Dayton area, leveraging his Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University. His legal background informed his approach to public policy and governance throughout his subsequent political career.

Mayor of Dayton (1994–2002)

Turner was elected as the 53rd Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, taking office on January 4, 1994. He succeeded Clay Dixon in the role and served two terms, leaving office on January 4, 2002, when he was succeeded by Rhine McLin.

During his tenure as mayor, Turner oversaw a period of urban redevelopment efforts in Dayton, a city that had experienced economic challenges due to the decline of its traditional manufacturing base. Turner's work as mayor earned recognition from the United States Conference of Mayors, and he developed relationships with national political figures during this period.

The Dayton region's demographic and economic profile during Turner's mayoral tenure was reflected in census data showing the challenges facing the city, including population shifts and economic restructuring.

Turner's experience as mayor, particularly his engagement with urban development, historic preservation, and community planning, informed his legislative priorities when he later transitioned to Congress. The Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian War in 1995 and were negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Turner's congressional district, also became a significant element of his political identity and foreign policy interests.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

Turner was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, winning the seat for Ohio's 3rd congressional district, which was centered on Dayton. He succeeded Tony P. Hall, a Democrat who had held the seat before being appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. Turner took office on January 3, 2003.

Following redistricting after the 2010 census, Turner began representing Ohio's 10th congressional district starting in 2013. The reconfigured district continued to include the Dayton area and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, maintaining the geographic and institutional anchors of Turner's constituency.

Legislative Priorities and Defense Policy

Throughout his congressional tenure, Turner has focused on national defense, military affairs, and the interests of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, one of the largest and most complex military installations in the United States. The base is a major employer in the Dayton region and houses numerous defense research and logistics operations.

Turner has consistently worked to secure provisions benefiting Ohio's defense infrastructure through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In December 2025, Turner announced that he had secured provisions in the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2026 that included significant wins for Ohio's 10th Congressional District.

Turner also engaged with housing policy issues during his time in Congress, producing reports examining aspects of federal housing programs.

On matters related to healthcare policy, Turner's voting record has drawn criticism from opponents. In February 2026, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released an analysis claiming that Turner and House Republicans had contributed to more than 113,000 Ohioans dropping their Affordable Care Act health insurance coverage.

On trade policy, Turner has at times diverged from the position of the Republican Party leadership. In February 2026, he partnered with a Democratic lawmaker from California to push back against tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, introducing legislation that would protect NATO allied countries from new U.S. tariffs. This bipartisan effort reflected Turner's long-standing commitment to transatlantic alliances and NATO.

Historic Preservation

Turner has been involved in efforts related to historic preservation, an interest that developed during his time as mayor. He was recognized for his engagement with the Preserve America initiative, a federal program that encouraged and supported community efforts to preserve the nation's cultural and natural heritage.

House Intelligence Committee (2022–2025)

Turner became a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2022, initially serving as its ranking member from January 1, 2022, succeeding Devin Nunes, who had resigned from Congress. When the Republican Party regained the House majority following the 2022 midterm elections, Turner was elevated to the chairmanship, assuming the role on January 9, 2023. He succeeded Democrat Adam Schiff as chair.

As chair of the Intelligence Committee, Turner oversaw congressional oversight of the U.S. intelligence community, including hearings with former national security officials. His tenure as chair ended on January 15, 2025, when he was succeeded by Rick Crawford. Turner's removal from the chairmanship drew media attention and public commentary.

Following his departure from the committee leadership, Turner continued to appear in national media to discuss intelligence and national security matters, including a January 2026 appearance on CBS News' Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly (2014–2016)

Turner served as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from November 24, 2014, to November 19, 2016, succeeding Hugh Bayley of the United Kingdom and being succeeded by Paolo Alli of Italy. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is an inter-parliamentary organization that provides a forum for legislators from NATO member states to discuss and influence alliance policy. Turner's election to the presidency of the body reflected his prominence in transatlantic security affairs and his sustained engagement with NATO-related issues in Congress.

Western Balkans Engagement

Turner has maintained a long-standing engagement with the Western Balkans, rooted in the connection between Dayton, Ohio, and the Dayton Peace Accords of 1995, which ended the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The accords were negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, located in Turner's congressional district, giving the Dayton region a historical link to Balkan peace.

Turner has served as co-chair of the Congressional Bosnia Caucus and has made multiple congressional delegation visits to the region. In November 2025, Turner traveled to the Balkans, including stops in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was honored as an honorary citizen of Sarajevo in recognition of his work on behalf of the country and its relationship with the United States.

In December 2025, Turner and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire introduced a bipartisan and bicameral resolution to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.

Turner has also been involved in discussions about territorial disputes and political developments in the region. He was reported to have warned Bosnia over a territorial dispute with Montenegro.

In January 2026, Turner participated in a discussion with the Atlantic Council as part of its Balkans Debrief series, discussing U.S. engagement in the Western Balkans in his capacity as co-chair of the Congressional Bosnia Caucus and head of the U.S. delegation.

Personal Life

Turner has two children. He has maintained his residence in the Dayton, Ohio, area throughout his political career, reflecting his deep roots in the community he has represented at the municipal and federal levels.

Turner's connection to the Dayton community extends beyond electoral politics. His involvement in local development, historic preservation, and the legacy of the Dayton Peace Accords has linked him to both the civic identity and the international significance of the region.

Recognition

Turner's public service has been recognized through a number of honors and distinctions. His election as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in 2014 represented one of the most prominent international roles held by a sitting member of Congress, placing him at the forefront of legislative engagement with the transatlantic alliance.

In November 2025, Turner was designated an honorary citizen of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in recognition of his sustained advocacy for the country and his work to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Bosnia. This honor reflected Turner's decades of engagement with the Western Balkans, beginning with the connection forged by the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995.

Turner's work has also been noted in the context of historic preservation. He was featured in Preserve America newsletters for his efforts related to cultural and heritage preservation.

His service as chair of the House Intelligence Committee from 2023 to 2025 placed Turner at the center of congressional oversight of the U.S. intelligence community during a period of significant national security challenges.

Legacy

Mike Turner's political career, spanning more than three decades from his election as mayor of Dayton in 1993 to his ongoing service in Congress, has been defined by a focus on defense policy, transatlantic security alliances, and the interests of the Dayton, Ohio, region. His progression from local government to the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee and the presidency of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly represents a sustained trajectory in national security and foreign affairs.

Turner's identification with the Dayton Peace Accords and the Western Balkans has given his congressional career an international dimension that distinguishes it from that of many peers. His honorary citizenship in Sarajevo and his bipartisan resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Accords underscore the depth of this engagement.

His legislative work on behalf of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the defense industry in Ohio's 10th Congressional District has been a consistent thread throughout his time in Congress, linking local economic interests to broader questions of national defense.

Turner's willingness to engage in bipartisan cooperation on certain issues, such as his 2026 collaboration with a Democratic colleague to challenge tariffs on NATO allies, illustrates an approach to transatlantic policy that has at times transcended party lines.