1. Robin Colleen Carnahan was born on August 4,1961 and is an American businesswoman, lawyer, and politician, who previously served as the Missouri Secretary of State and served as the Administrator of General Services in the Biden administration from 2021 to 2025.
Robin Carnahan is the daughter of Missouri politicians Mel and Jean Carnahan.
Robin Carnahan was then a senior advisor at the global strategy firm Albright Stonebridge Group.
In 2013, Carnahan was named a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.
Robin Carnahan then became a fellow at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University.
Robin Carnahan's nomination was confirmed by the US Senate on June 23,2021, and she was sworn into office on July 2.
Robin Carnahan grew up near Rolla, Missouri, the only daughter in a family of four children.
Robin Carnahan received her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986, where she was the executive editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law.
In 1990, Robin Carnahan went to work in central Europe as part of a team from the National Democratic Institute.
Later, Robin Carnahan founded and managed an international trade and business consulting firm to advise public and privately held US companies expanding into global markets.
On November 2,2004, Robin Carnahan was elected as Missouri's 38th secretary of state.
Robin Carnahan worked to increase open access to public documents and data by expanding online availability of information through the Missouri State Archives and Missouri State Library.
In 2008, Robin Carnahan worked with Missouri's local election authorities to ensure all eligible Missourians had access to the ballot box.
Robin Carnahan has been a strong advocate for early voting, paper ballots and better training for Election Day poll workers.
Robin Carnahan served as co-chair of both the Elections and Securities Committees of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Robin Carnahan served on the executive committee and as Chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State.
On February 3,2009, Robin Carnahan announced she would run for the United States Senate in 2010 to replace retiring US Senator Kit Bond, saying it is time to "stop the political bickering and start solving problems".
Robin Carnahan was elected the Democratic nominee in the primary election held August 3,2010.
However, Robin Carnahan was defeated by Republican Roy Blunt as part of a Republican wave of victories in the midterm election.
Robin Carnahan remained in Missouri and began advising civic technology firms and organizations seeking to help government deliver better services for citizens and cut costs for taxpayers through smarter use of technology.
Robin Carnahan is a board member and serviced as a strategic adviser for LaunchCode, an organization that connects people to economic opportunity through paid apprenticeships in programming and technology.
Robin Carnahan has been regularly featured in the media and spoken before numerous national groups and congressional and legislative committees on finance, regulatory and elections issues.
In 2013 Robin Carnahan was named a Fellow at the University of Chicago's non-partisan Institute of Politics.
Robin Carnahan serves on the Board of Directors of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and on the National Advisory Committee of the Democracy Fund.
In February 2016, Robin Carnahan joined the General Services Administration as the director of the state and local practice of 18F.
Robin Carnahan often speaks about using innovation and technology to improve delivery of government services, including at Tech@State, the Code for America Summit, Personal Democracy Forum and the 2016 IT Solutions Management Conference, FedScoop named Robin Carnahan as one of the Top Women in Tech 2017.
Robin Carnahan comes from a family that has been active in Missouri politics for several generations.
Robin Carnahan served only one term before being defeated in 1946, but ran again in 1948 and won.
Robin Carnahan's brother Russ Carnahan was a member of Congress and represented the southern portion of the St Louis Metropolitan Area.
On February 27,2006, Robin Carnahan announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Robin Carnahan continued to serve as Secretary of State while undergoing treatment and her cancer is in remission.