Tim Sheehy

Tim Sheehy
Born	Timothy Patrick Sheehy 18 11, 1985
Birthplace	Ramsey, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman, aerial firefighter, cattle rancher
Known for	Junior United States Senator from Montana; founder of Bridger Aerospace
Education	United States Naval Academy (BS)
Spouse(s)	Carmen Sheehy
Children	4
Awards	Bronze Star, Purple Heart Medal
Website	[https://timformt.com/ Official site]

Timothy Patrick Sheehy (born November 18, 1985) is an American politician, businessman, aerial firefighter, cattle rancher, and former United States Navy SEAL officer who has served since January 3, 2025, as the junior United States senator from Montana. A member of the Republican Party, Sheehy defeated three-term Democratic incumbent Jon Tester in the 2024 election to win the seat. Born and raised in Minnesota, Sheehy graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2008 and served as a naval officer with the Navy SEALs, deploying to Afghanistan and earning the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service. After leaving the military, he founded Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting company based in Belgrade, Montana, and established himself as a cattle rancher in the state. At the time of his swearing-in, Sheehy became the youngest Republican serving in the U.S. Senate and the second-youngest senator overall, after Democrat Jon Ossoff of Georgia.

Early Life

Timothy Patrick Sheehy was born on November 18, 1985, in Ramsey, Minnesota, a suburb in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. He was raised in Minnesota and spent his formative years there before pursuing a military career.

Details about Sheehy's family background and childhood in Ramsey are limited in publicly available sourced material. What is documented is that he developed an interest in military service that led him to seek admission to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, one of the country's premier service academies.

Education

Sheehy attended the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, graduating in 2008. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a naval officer.

Career

Military Service

After graduating from the Naval Academy in 2008, Sheehy began his career as a naval officer. He went on to serve with the U.S. Navy SEALs, the Navy's primary special operations force. Sheehy served in the military from 2008 to 2019, attaining the rank of lieutenant.

During his time in the SEALs, Sheehy deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as part of the War in Afghanistan. For his service in combat, he received the Bronze Star Medal, awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement in a combat zone, and the Purple Heart, which is awarded to service members wounded or killed in action.

The circumstances surrounding a gunshot wound Sheehy sustained became a subject of scrutiny during his 2024 Senate campaign. In October 2024, The New York Times published an investigation examining questions about the incident. Sheehy had stated that he was shot in Afghanistan, but questions arose about the details of the injury, particularly in connection with a separate incident in Glacier National Park in which a firearm was involved.

Bridger Aerospace

In 2014, after leaving active military service, Sheehy founded Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting and wildfire management company based in Belgrade, Montana. The company specialized in deploying aircraft, including air tankers and aerial surveillance platforms, to combat wildfires across the western United States.

Under Sheehy's leadership, Bridger Aerospace grew into a significant player in the aerial firefighting industry. The company operated from facilities at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport area and expanded its fleet and services over the years. Bridger Aerospace also developed related technology services, including drone detection capabilities, as part of a broader portfolio of companies associated with the Bridger brand.

However, the company's financial performance drew scrutiny. A 2024 Washington Post report examined Bridger Aerospace's financial losses, noting that the company had experienced significant operating deficits despite the growing demand for aerial firefighting services as wildfires intensified across the American West.

In July 2024, as his Senate campaign intensified, Sheehy stepped down as CEO of Bridger Aerospace to focus on his political bid.

Sheehy was among the wealthiest candidates running for the U.S. Senate, with his wealth derived in significant part from his stake in Bridger Aerospace and associated enterprises. A 2023 Business Insider report examined Sheehy's business holdings and noted connections to investments that included entities with ties to China and climate change–related sectors, despite his public rhetoric criticizing both.

A lawsuit filed against Sheehy over a plane crash in Florida was dismissed in September 2024.

Ranching

In addition to his work in aerial firefighting, Sheehy established himself as a cattle rancher in Montana, operating a ranch in the state. His ranching activities became part of his public identity as he transitioned into political life, presenting himself as rooted in Montana's agricultural traditions.

2024 Senate Campaign

Sheehy announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Montana as a Republican, seeking to unseat three-term Democratic incumbent Jon Tester. The Montana Senate race attracted national attention as one of the most competitive and consequential contests of the 2024 election cycle, with control of the Senate potentially at stake.

During the campaign, Sheehy positioned himself as a political outsider with military credentials and business experience. He aligned himself closely with the policies and political movement associated with Donald Trump and the Republican Party's conservative base.

The campaign was marked by several controversies. In September 2024, The New York Times reported on remarks Sheehy had made about Native Americans, which drew condemnation from tribal leaders across Montana. The remarks prompted tribal leaders to renew calls for a public apology from the candidate. Sheehy declined to apologize for the comments, stating that recordings of his remarks had been edited or taken out of context.

An NBC News report during the campaign highlighted remarks Sheehy had made regarding women and the issue of abortion, in which he suggested that women had been "indoctrinated" on the subject.

On education policy, Sheehy advocated for the elimination of the Department of Education, describing his plan as "throwing [the] Department of Ed in the trash."

Despite the controversies, Sheehy defeated Tester in the November 2024 general election, flipping the seat to the Republican Party. The victory was part of a broader Republican wave that helped the party secure a majority in the Senate.

U.S. Senate

Sheehy was sworn into office as the junior United States senator from Montana on January 3, 2025. He serves alongside senior senator Steve Daines, also a Republican. At the time of his swearing-in, Sheehy was the youngest Republican in the Senate and the second-youngest senator overall.

Legislative Activity

During his first year in office, Sheehy became active on issues related to immigration and border security. In February 2026, he signed onto an amicus brief supporting the Trump administration's legal challenge to birthright citizenship, arguing for an end to the constitutional provision granting citizenship to individuals born on U.S. soil.

Sheehy also authored an opinion piece published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in February 2026, defending immigration enforcement actions and criticizing municipal leaders in cities like Minneapolis for what he characterized as choosing "chaos" over compliance with federal immigration policy.

He introduced legislation known as the "JAIL Act," which was described by critics as a bill that was "unconstitutional on its face, unworkable in practice," framed as political rhetoric rather than substantive policy.

Energy Policy

Sheehy's positions on energy policy attracted media attention in February 2026. While campaigning for the Senate, Sheehy had publicly criticized what he called "goofy, subsidized green energy crap," and after taking office he voted to eliminate solar tax credits. However, a report by E&E News, published by Politico, revealed that Sheehy's own home in Bozeman, Montana, was equipped with solar panels and battery storage systems, drawing charges of inconsistency from observers.

Author

Sheehy is the author of Mudslingers, a book published by Simon & Schuster. He is also listed as an author on the Simon & Schuster website.

Personal Life

Sheehy is married to Carmen Sheehy, and the couple has four children. The family resides in Montana, where Sheehy operates a cattle ranch in addition to his political duties.

Sheehy's military service remains a central element of his public identity. He has spoken publicly about the injuries he sustained during his service, including a gunshot wound whose precise circumstances became a matter of public debate during the 2024 campaign.

In September 2024, a lawsuit that had been filed against Sheehy in connection with a plane crash in Florida was dismissed.

Recognition

During his military career, Sheehy received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart, two of the U.S. military's most recognized decorations. The Bronze Star is awarded for heroic or meritorious service in a combat zone, while the Purple Heart recognizes service members who have been wounded or killed in action.

Sheehy's founding of Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting company that grew to become a significant operator in the wildfire management sector, brought him recognition in the business community and in Montana civic life prior to his entry into politics.

His election to the U.S. Senate in 2024, defeating a three-term incumbent in one of the most closely watched races in the country, was noted by political observers as a significant achievement for a first-time candidate. At the time of his swearing-in, he was recognized as the youngest Republican senator and the second-youngest member of the U.S. Senate overall.

In October 2025, a national media interview Sheehy gave drew criticism from some commentators in Montana, with the Daily Montanan editorial board describing the appearance as reflecting poorly on the state.