Jack Reed

Jack Reed
Born	John Francis Reed 12 11, 1949
Birthplace	Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	U.S. Senator from Rhode Island
Known for	U.S. Senator from Rhode Island; Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee
Education	United States Military Academy (B.S.) Harvard University (M.P.P., J.D.)
Awards	Ranger tab, Airborne badge

John Francis Reed (born November 12, 1949) is an American politician and United States Army veteran who has served as the U.S. Senator from Rhode Island since January 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, Reed was first elected to the Senate in 1996 after previously serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1997. At 76 years old, Reed is one of the oldest and longest-serving members of the U.S. Congress, having spent over three decades in the Senate. Before entering politics, Reed served as an officer in the U.S. Army, including service with the 82nd Airborne Division, and earned degrees from the United States Military Academy at West Point and Harvard University. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Reed has been a prominent voice on defense policy, military affairs, and national security throughout his Senate career.

Early Life

John Francis Reed was born on November 12, 1949, in Cranston, Rhode Island. He grew up in the working-class city south of Providence, Rhode Island's capital. Reed's upbringing in Cranston shaped his connection to the state he would go on to represent for more than three decades in the U.S. Congress.

Reed pursued a military education, attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Following his graduation from West Point, Reed was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. He served as an active-duty Army officer, including assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division, one of the Army's premier airborne infantry divisions. During his military service, Reed earned the Ranger tab and the Airborne badge, distinguishing himself as both a Ranger-qualified and airborne-qualified officer.

Reed's military service provided him with firsthand experience in defense and national security matters that would later inform his work in Congress, particularly his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee. After completing his active-duty service, Reed transitioned out of the military and pursued further education and a career in law and public service.

Education

Reed received his undergraduate education at the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. After completing his military service, he enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned both a Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. His combined education in public policy, law, and military science provided a foundation for his subsequent career in politics, particularly in the areas of defense policy, fiscal matters, and governance.

Career

Military Service

Before entering politics, Reed served as an officer in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and completed both Ranger and Airborne training, earning the Ranger tab and Airborne badge. His military career gave him direct experience with the armed forces and defense operations, experience that he has cited throughout his political career when weighing in on military policy, defense spending, and matters of national security.

U.S. House of Representatives (1991–1997)

Reed entered elected politics when he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Rhode Island beginning in 1991. He served three terms in the House before seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate. During his time in the House, Reed began building a legislative record focused on issues of importance to Rhode Island and to national defense policy.

U.S. Senate (1997–present)

Reed was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 as a Democrat representing Rhode Island and took office in January 1997. He has since been reelected multiple times and, as of 2026, is seeking a sixth term in the Senate, which would extend his service well beyond three decades.

Throughout his Senate tenure, Reed has been closely associated with defense and military policy. He serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, a position that places him at the center of congressional oversight of the Department of Defense, military operations, and national security strategy. In this role, Reed has been involved in shaping defense authorization legislation, overseeing military budgets, and scrutinizing the conduct of U.S. military operations abroad.

Defense and National Security

Reed's military background has positioned him as one of the Senate's leading voices on defense matters. As Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, he has exercised significant influence over the annual National Defense Authorization Act and other legislation governing the U.S. military.

In September 2025, Reed delivered a speech on the Senate floor rebuking President Donald Trump's military strike in the Caribbean and the administration's rebranding of the Department of Defense as the "Department of War." In his remarks, Reed challenged the rationale and legality of the military action and criticized the symbolic name change as a departure from the post-World War II consensus that the nation's defense establishment should be organized around deterrence and defense rather than offensive warfare.

In February 2026, Reed publicly opposed reports that President Trump was considering preemptive military action against Iran. In a statement, Reed called for restraint and adherence to U.S. law, arguing that any major military action should require congressional authorization and that preemptive strikes risked destabilizing the region without clear strategic justification. Reed stated that the potential consequences of such action demanded careful deliberation rather than unilateral executive action.

Reed's opposition to the proposed Iran strikes reflected a broader pattern in his Senate career of emphasizing congressional war powers, diplomatic engagement, and caution regarding the use of military force absent clear legal authority and strategic necessity. His positions on these issues have drawn on his own military service and his institutional knowledge of defense policy gained over decades on the Armed Services Committee.

Defense Industry and Rhode Island

In addition to his work on national defense policy, Reed has focused on the intersection of defense spending and the Rhode Island economy. In February 2026, Reed highlighted federal investments in submarine production that were projected to bring approximately 3,500 new jobs to Quonset Point, in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Reed credited years of federal investment aimed at boosting submarine construction capacity for the expansion, which was tied to the United States' effort to ramp up production of submarines. The announcement underscored the significance of defense manufacturing to Rhode Island's economy and Reed's role in securing federal funding for defense-related projects in the state.

Quonset Point, home to facilities supporting submarine construction, has long been a key site for defense manufacturing in Rhode Island. Reed's advocacy for continued investment in the submarine industrial base has been a recurring theme throughout his Senate career, reflecting both national security priorities and the economic interests of his constituents.

Immigration and Civil Liberties

In a February 2026 interview with Ocean State Media, Reed criticized the conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating "That's not America" in reference to reported enforcement actions. Reed's comments reflected concerns about the methods and scope of immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration and signaled his willingness to challenge executive branch actions he viewed as inconsistent with American values and constitutional protections.

Disaster Relief and Federal Emergency Declarations

Reed has been active in seeking federal assistance for Rhode Island during natural disasters. In February 2026, as a historic blizzard struck the northeastern United States, causing severe power outages for tens of thousands of Rhode Island residents, Reed joined the state's full congressional delegation in requesting a federal emergency declaration for Rhode Island. The delegation's letter to the federal government cited the storm's severe impacts, including widespread power loss and dangerous conditions, as justification for emergency federal assistance.

Such efforts to secure disaster relief funding and federal emergency declarations have been a consistent element of Reed's constituent service throughout his decades in the Senate, reflecting the vulnerability of the Rhode Island coast and infrastructure to severe weather events.

Sixth Term Campaign

As of early 2026, Reed, at 76 years old, has indicated his intention to seek a sixth term in the U.S. Senate. In an interview with Ocean State Media, Reed expressed that he felt "ready to go" and remained eager to continue serving after more than 30 years in the chamber. If reelected, Reed's tenure would extend to over 36 years in the Senate, making him one of the longest-serving senators in Rhode Island history.

Reed's decision to seek another term has drawn attention to questions about age and longevity in the Senate, as he is among the oldest sitting members of Congress. However, Reed has signaled his continued engagement with major policy issues, particularly defense, national security, and Rhode Island economic development, as motivation for remaining in office.

Personal Life

Reed was born and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island, and has maintained his ties to the state throughout his career in Washington, D.C. His background as a West Point graduate and Army veteran has been a defining element of his public identity, and he has frequently referenced his military service in discussing defense policy and veterans' issues.

Reed is one of the few members of the U.S. Senate with direct military experience, a distinction that has informed his approach to defense legislation and his role on the Armed Services Committee. His service with the 82nd Airborne Division and his qualifications as a Ranger and paratrooper have been noted in biographical profiles and media coverage throughout his political career.

Recognition

Reed's long tenure in the Senate and his role on the Armed Services Committee have made him one of the most prominent figures in congressional defense policy. As the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, he holds one of the most senior positions available to a member of the minority party in the Senate, giving him significant influence over defense authorization, military oversight, and national security legislation.

His military decorations, including the Ranger tab and Airborne badge, reflect his service as an Army officer prior to entering politics. Reed's combination of military service and extensive legislative experience on defense matters has been noted by media outlets and political observers as distinguishing him among his Senate colleagues.

Britannica describes Reed as "an American politician" who has represented Rhode Island in the Senate since 1997 and highlights his background as a U.S. Army veteran.

Legacy

Jack Reed's career spans more than three decades in the U.S. Senate and additional years in the House of Representatives, making him one of the longest-serving members of Congress from Rhode Island. His focus on defense and national security policy, rooted in his own military service, has positioned him as a consistent and influential voice on matters of military spending, the use of force, congressional war powers, and the defense industrial base.

Reed's advocacy for Rhode Island's defense manufacturing sector, particularly submarine production at Quonset Point, has had tangible economic effects for the state, with thousands of jobs tied to federal investments he has championed. His insistence on congressional authorization for military action, as demonstrated by his opposition to preemptive strikes on Iran and his criticism of unilateral executive military decisions, reflects a commitment to the constitutional framework governing the use of force.

As one of the few senators with direct combat-arms military experience, Reed has brought a perspective to defense debates that is informed by personal service. His willingness to challenge presidents of both parties on matters of war and peace, combined with his institutional knowledge of the Armed Services Committee, has made him a central figure in congressional oversight of the U.S. military.

Whether Reed secures a sixth term remains to be determined, but his three-decade Senate career has already established him as one of Rhode Island's most consequential federal officeholders and a significant figure in the modern history of the Senate Armed Services Committee.