Patrick Penn
Patrick Penn | |
|---|---|
| File:Patrick Penn by Gage Skidmore.jpg | |
| Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 85th district | |
| In office January 11, 2021 – June 13, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Capps |
| Succeeded by | Steven Brunk |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Talia Penn |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence(s) | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | Colorado State University (BS) George Mason University (MS) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | File:Flag of the United States Army.svg United States Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
Patrick Penn is an American politician who served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 85th district from 2021 through 2025. Currently, Penn is the undersecretary of the Food and Nutrition Service.
Early life and education
[edit | edit source]Penn was raised in the foster care system. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Army. During his tenure, Penn earned a Bachelor of Science in sociology/criminology from Colorado State University and a Master of Science in applied Information technology from the Volgenau School of Engineering of George Mason University.[1]
While in the United States Army, Penn was a captain and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.[2]
Career
[edit | edit source]Once Penn had retired from the U.S. Army,[when?] he worked for Textron Aviation.[1]
Kansas House of Representatives
[edit | edit source]In 2020, Penn sought election to the Kansas House of Representatives. In August, he defeated incumbent Michael Capps, and was elected in the general election in November. He assumed office on January 11, 2021. New Politics describes him as a Christian conservative.[1]
Food and Nutrition Service
[edit | edit source]Penn resigned from the Kansas House of Representatives in June 2025 and was subsequently appointed as deputy undersecretary for the Food and Nutrition Service by president Donald Trump.[3] United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated that Penn's "personally invested in ensuring farmers and rural America prosper."[4]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Living people
- 21st-century African-American politicians
- African-American state legislators in Kansas
- Anti-pornography activists
- Black conservatism in the United States
- Colorado State University alumni
- George Mason University alumni
- Politicians from Wichita, Kansas
- Republican Party members of the Kansas House of Representatives
- United States Army officers
- 21st-century members of the Kansas Legislature
- United States Army personnel stubs
- Members of the Kansas House of Representatives stubs