Zinke, Ryan K.

Ryan Zinke is a fifth-generation Montanan born in Bozeman and raised in Whitefish who currently serves as the U.S. Representative for Montana's 1st Congressional District, which covers 16 counties in western Montana. First elected to Congress in 2014, he previously served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019 before returning to the House in 2023.

Zinke's career is defined by his 23 years of active-duty military service as a U.S. Navy SEAL, retiring as a commander in 2008. He earned a Bronze Star for his service and held multiple leadership positions, including Ground Forces and Task Force commander at SEAL Team Six and Deputy Commander of Joint Special Operations during the Iraq War. Before his military career, he earned a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Oregon and later obtained an MBA and a master's degree in global leadership.

As a member of Congress, Zinke serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, focusing his legislative agenda on restoring accountability to federal spending, restoring American energy dominance, and bolstering national security. During his first two terms in the House, he served on the Armed Services Committee and Natural Resources Committee, where he championed public land access and conservation while challenging federal restrictions on resource development. He was the first Navy SEAL elected to the House of Representatives and the first Montanan to serve as a Cabinet secretary.

Zinke announced in March 2026 that he will not seek reelection for a fourth term, citing health issues related to injuries sustained during his military career.