BIO: Van Taylor is a Republican representing Texas’ 3rd congressional district. The accomplished Marine was sworn into office on Jan. 3, 2019.
Taylor earned both a bachelor’s degree in history and an MBA from Harvard University. The majority of his career was spent in the Marines, most of which was spent in the U.S. before deploying to Iraq in 2003.
He graduated first in his class from The Basic School’s sniper employment officer course before going on to command the First Marine Regiment’s Reconnaissance Platoon in Camp Pendleton, Calif. Taylor proceeded to graduate from the John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare at Ft. Bragg, N.C., and joined the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion as a platoon commander for Charlie Company.
In Iraq, Taylor led the first platoon of the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company on a mission to rescue 31 wounded Marines during the Battle of An Nasiriyah. He was rewarded for his service with the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Commendation Model with V Device.