Best Known As: Military Figure

Gist:  Ladda Tammy Duckworth (born 1968) is the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. She was previously the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Duckworth is an Iraq War veteran and former U.S. Army helicopter pilot whose severe combat wounds cost her both of her legs and damaged her right arm. She continues to serve as a Major in the Illinois Army National Guard along with her husband, Major Bryan W. Bowlsbey, a signal officer and fellow Iraq War veteran.

In the 2006 election, Duckworth was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for the sixth district of Illinois which was being vacated by long-time Representative Henry Hyde. Duckworth lost to her opponent, Representative Peter Roskam, by 2% of the vote.

A supporter of the presidential election campaign of Barack Obama, Duckworth was given a prime-time speaking slot on the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Life Facts:  Duckworth was appointed Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans? Affairs on November 21, 2006 by Governor Rod Blagojevich. She worked to develop state programs giving tax credits to employers who hire veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or Desert Storm, more state grants to service organizations, and backing for below-market mortgages for veterans. She was honored by Chicago's Access Living for "her extraordinary commitment to veterans with disabilities".

On September 17, 2008, Duckworth attended a campaign event for Dan Seals, Democratic candidate for Illinois' 10th congressional district. She used vacation time to avoid any appearance of impropriety, but violated Illinois law by going to the event in a state-owned van which was equipped for a person with physical disabilities. She promptly acknowledged the mistake and repaid the state for the use of the van.

in Denver, Colorado.]]

On February 3, 2009, Duckworth was nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The United States Senate confirmed her for the position on April 22.

On 23 August 2006, Duckworth was endorsed by the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. In accepting the endorsements, Duckworth criticized the Bush Administration's education policy. "The strict, one-size fits-all approach under the No Child Left Behind Act doesn?t offer the flexibility that our local schools, teachers and parents need. The fact that schools in our District are on the "watch list" shows that current adequate yearly progress rules are sorely in need of flexibility," she said. "In our community, too many good schools and their resources are at risk and it?s time for real relief and results for students in the Sixth District.

In August 2006, Duckworth called on Congress to audit the estimated $437 billion spent on overseas military and foreign aid since September 11, 2001. She said, "Real and meaningful oversight has taken a back seat to partisan inaction. With the right kind of leadership Congress can bring greater fiscal discipline and accountability to the billions of dollars we are spending on our military efforts."

Career Facts:  Duckworth was appointed Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans? Affairs on November 21, 2006 by Governor Rod Blagojevich. She worked to develop state programs giving tax credits to employers who hire veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or Desert Storm, more state grants to service organizations, and backing for below-market mortgages for veterans. She was honored by Chicago's Access Living for "her extraordinary commitment to veterans with disabilities".

On September 17, 2008, Duckworth attended a campaign event for Dan Seals, Democratic candidate for Illinois' 10th congressional district. She used vacation time to avoid any appearance of impropriety, but violated Illinois law by going to the event in a state-owned van which was equipped for a person with physical disabilities. She promptly acknowledged the mistake and repaid the state for the use of the van.

in Denver, Colorado.]]

On February 3, 2009, Duckworth was nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The United States Senate confirmed her for the position on April 22.