# Rick Perry

> American politician

**Wikidata**: [Q215057](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q215057)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Perry)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rick-perry

## Summary

Rick Perry, born James Richard Perry on March 4, 1950, is an American politician, military officer, and farmer who served as the 14th United States Secretary of Energy. A member of the first cabinet of President Donald Trump (inaugurated January 20, 2017), Perry is also notable as a Distinguished Eagle Scout and a graduate of Texas A&M University. His career in public service began in 1972 and spans roles in agriculture, state governance, and federal energy policy.

## Biography

- **Born:** March 4, 1950
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** Texas A&M University (public research university in College Station, Texas; founded 1876)
- **Known for:** Serving as the 14th United States Secretary of Energy; member of the first cabinet of Donald Trump
- **Occupations:** Politician, military officer, farmer
- **Field(s):** Agriculture
- **Work Period Start:** 1972
- **Website:** rickperry.org
- **Also Known As:** James Richard Perry, James Richard "Rick" Perry, Richard Perry

## Contributions

Rick Perry's career encompasses multiple domains of public service. As the 14th United States Secretary of Energy, he led the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the executive branch under the Trump Administration's first cabinet, which was established on January 20, 2017. His professional trajectory began in 1972, rooted in agriculture — the cultivation of plants and animals for food and raw materials — reflecting his background as a farmer before entering public office. His military service is recognized with the National Defense Service Medal, a service award of the United States Armed Forces established on April 22, 1953. Perry's scouting achievements culminated in the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, recognizing distinguished service at the highest level of the Boy Scouts of America. He received a total of three recorded awards during his career.

## FAQs

**What was Rick Perry's role in the Trump administration?**
Rick Perry served as the 14th United States Secretary of Energy, acting as a senior appointed officer within the first cabinet of Donald Trump, which was inaugurated on January 20, 2017.

**Where was Rick Perry educated?**
Perry attended Texas A&M University, a public research university located in College Station, Texas, that was founded in 1876 and employs approximately 11,260 staff.

**What is Rick Perry's professional background before his federal role?**
Perry's career spans three occupations: politician, military officer, and farmer. His work in public service began in 1972, and he has been affiliated with agriculture as a core field of work throughout his life.

**What awards has Rick Perry received?**
Perry has been recognized with three awards: the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (for distinguished service in scouting), the National Defense Service Medal (a United States Armed Forces service award), and one additional award of record.

## Why They Matter

Rick Perry's significance lies in his role as a bridge between agricultural America and federal energy policy. As Secretary of Energy, he helped shape U.S. energy priorities during a consequential period of the Trump administration, influencing decisions on nuclear security, energy research, and domestic energy production. His background as a farmer and military officer gave him a distinctive perspective among cabinet officials, grounding federal energy strategy in the practical realities of rural America and armed forces experience. His position in the first Trump cabinet placed him at the center of consequential national policy debates. The fact that a Distinguished Eagle Scout and agriculture-oriented public servant rose to lead one of the most technically complex federal departments illustrates the breadth of his influence across military, agricultural, and energy domains.

## Notable For

- **14th United States Secretary of Energy** — held a cabinet-level position overseeing U.S. energy policy and nuclear security
- **Member of the First Cabinet of Donald Trump** — served among the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch beginning January 20, 2017
- **Distinguished Eagle Scout Award** — recognized for distinguished service at the highest level of scouting
- **National Defense Service Medal** — honored for military service in the United States Armed Forces
- **Texas A&M University Alumnus** — educated at one of the largest public research universities in the United States, founded in 1876
- **Three Distinct Careers** — held roles as politician, military officer, and farmer across a public service career beginning in 1972
- **Agriculture Advocate** — maintained a professional focus on agriculture throughout his career, representing farming communities at the federal level

## Body

### Early Life and Identity

James Richard Perry was born on March 4, 1950, in the United States. He has been known by several names throughout his public life: James Richard Perry, James Richard "Rick" Perry, and Richard Perry. His personal identifiers are extensively documented across library authority files, academic databases, and biographical registries — including VIAF (22091258), ISNI (0000000119444419), and the Library of Congress (nr2004009616), among dozens of others.

### Education

Perry attended Texas A&M University, a public research institution located in College Station, Texas. The university was established in 1876 and operates within the United States, employing approximately 11,260 individuals. This education in a major agricultural and technical institution aligned with his lifelong connection to farming and applied science.

### Military Service

Perry served as a military officer — a member of an armed force holding a position of authority. His service was recognized with the National Defense Service Medal, a service award of the United States Armed Forces that was established on April 22, 1953. This military background informed his later approach to leadership and public administration.

### Agricultural Career

As a farmer — a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials — Perry maintained a direct connection to the land and agricultural production. His field of work is explicitly identified as agriculture, the cultivation of plants and animals to provide useful products. This practical grounding in one of America's foundational industries remained a defining characteristic throughout his public life.

### Political Career and Secretary of Energy

Perry's political career began in 1972 and culminated in his appointment as the 14th United States Secretary of Energy. In this capacity, he led the U.S. Department of Energy, the federal agency responsible for energy policy, nuclear security, and scientific research. His official portrait is catalogued as "Rick Perry official portrait.jpg," and his signature is preserved as "Rick Perry signature.svg."

He served as part of the first cabinet of Donald Trump, the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government, which was established on January 20, 2017. This cabinet operated within the United States and was composed of officials overseeing every major federal department.

### Recognitions and Honors

Perry received three recorded awards during his career:

- **Distinguished Eagle Scout Award** — a distinguished service award recognizing exceptional achievement and service by an Eagle Scout
- **National Defense Service Medal** — a United States Armed Forces service award established in 1953
- **One additional award of record** (catalogued as Q2611552)

### Digital and Public Presence

Perry maintains an extensive digital footprint. His official website is rickperry.org. He has been documented across numerous platforms and databases, including:

- **Social media**: Twitter/X accounts (@GovernorPerry, @SecretaryPerry), Instagram (@governorperry), and other platform identifiers
- **Biographical databases**: Encyclopaedia Britannica (biography/Rick-Perry), National Governors Association profile, and multiple academic and news identifiers
- **Standard identifiers**: Wikidata entry, Wikipedia page titled "Rick Perry" with 52 sitelinks across language editions, and cataloguing in systems including SUDOC, BNF, GND, and LCCN
- **Entertainment databases**: IMDb (nm1752773), Rotten Tomatoes, and other media references

His presence is indexed across government records (U.S. Department of Energy profile), political databases, and celebrity news aggregators, reflecting the wide public interest in his career.

### Affiliations

Perry is affiliated with the United States as a citizen and is connected to Texas A&M University through education. His career has spanned the fields of politics, military service, and agriculture — three domains that have shaped his approach to governance and public policy.

## References

1. Davos 2014 Participant List
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](http://fiddlingant.blogspot.com/2014/02/presidents-left-beats-right-hands-down.html)
4. Integrated Authority File
5. SNAC
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. GeneaStar
8. Munzinger Personen
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. Open Library
11. Davos 2018 Participant List
12. BBC Things
13. [Source](https://twitter.com/governorperry)
14. [Source](https://instagram.com/governorperry/)
15. [Source](https://www.facebook.com/GovernorPerry)
16. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/rick-perry-107aIaZZ9M/appearances)
17. The Movie Database