Chip Cravaack
| Chip Cravaack | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 8th district |
|
|
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Jim Oberstar |
| Succeeded by | Rick Nolan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raymond John Cravaack January 29, 1959 Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Residence | Lindstrom, Minnesota |
| Alma mater |
United States Naval Academy University of West Florida |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | Navy: 1981–1990 Naval Reserve: 1990–2005 |
| Rank |
 Captain
|
Raymond John "Chip" Cravaack (born January 29, 1959) is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for northeastern Minnesota's 8th congressional district from 2011 to 2013. In his first run for political office, he upset 18-term Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar by a margin of 4,400 votes to become the first Republican since 1947 to represent the district. Previously, Cravaack was a pilot for Northwest Airlines, and before that he was a Navy pilot, and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was defeated by DFL candidate Rick Nolan on November 6, 2012.
Cravaack was born in Charleston, West Virginia on January 29, 1959. His ancestry includes German, Italian, and Romanian-German. He grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1977. He was raised a Republican in a family that had a military background; his father, Ray, served in the Korean War, and his grandfather served in World War I. Cravaack graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, receiving a bachelor of science degree.
Following graduation, Cravaack served in the Navy as a helicopter pilot, fulfilling an early ambition. While in the Navy, he earned a master's degree in education from the University of West Florida to prepare for his post-military career. After his discharge from active duty, he served in the Naval Reserve, primarily with aircraft carrier crew augmentation unit, doing administrative work in support, and retiring in 2009 with the rank of Captain.
...
Wikipedia