Daniel Gade

Gade was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota. In 1997, he graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. Gade graduated with a Master of Public Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy in public administration and public policy from the University of Georgia in 2007 and 2011, respectively.[3][4]

Gade was wounded in action twice and decorated for valor while serving as a tank company commander in Iraq.[5] After Gade's second injury, his entire right leg was amputated.[6] He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit.[7]

Gade has advocated for veteran disability policies that encourage self-reliance and vocational rehabilitation.[8] He has authored a couple of scholarly articles in that field, most notably in Health Economics and the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.[4][3] In 2012, Gade began serving as an advisor at the Philanthropy Roundtable for its veterans work.[9] In 2013, he published an article in National Affairs about disability benefits and their failure to achieve positive outcomes for disabled veterans.[10] In 2013, Gade's National Affairs piece was used by Laura Beil to help construct her case in a Men's Health article that failed public policy causes veteran suicide, and the murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield partially stem from it.[11] In 2013, Gade authored an article in The Wall Street Journal discussing issues with disability claims in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.[12]

Gade served in the administration of President George W. Bush.[13] Gade returned to West Point in 2011, and he retired from the Army in 2017.[13] In 2015, Gade was appointed to the National Council on Disability.[14] In 2017, Gade was nominated to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,[13] but later withdrew from consideration citing the "toxic political climate in Washington."[15]

Since 2019, Gade has worked as a Professor of Practice at American University's School of Public Affairs.[16][17]

Gade is the Republican nominee for the 2020 election to represent Virginia in the United States Senate.[18] He faced adjunct professor and public school teacher Alissa Baldwin and defense contractor and retired Army intelligence officer Thomas Speciale in the Republican primary.[19] Gade became the nominee after garnering 67% of the vote while Baldwin and Speciale received 18% and 15%, respectively.[18] The seat is currently held by Democrat Mark Warner.[20] Warner was re-elected with 56% of the vote; Gade received less than 44%.[21]

Gade lives in Mount Vernon, Virginia, with his wife, Wendy, and their three children.[22] He became the paralympic world champion at the 2010 Ironman 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida.[23] President George W. Bush described cycling with Gade as "unbelievable",[24] since he "rode with one leg, navigating some really tough trails".[25] Gade is a competitive cyclist.[26]