Alberto Gonzales

Appointed the 80th Attorney General of the United States, Alberto Gonzales became the first Hispanic to lead the nation's largest law enforcement office. Former White House Counsel to President George W. Bush, Gonzales played a critical role in the administration's efforts in the war on terror and addressing the changing role of the Department of Justice post 9-11.

As Attorney General, Gonzales focused on modernizing the nation's laws to effectively deal with the dangers facing the nation. He established the Justice Department's national security division and pioneered new strategies for prosecuting terrorism suspects. In addition to his focus on national security, Gonzales concentrated on corporate and public integrity, the causes and remedies of gang violence, and he created the Project Safe Childhood initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

A native Texan, Gonzales was raised in a household that personified core American values of hard work, personal initiative, dedication to family, and perseverance in the face of adversity. One of eight children, he lived in a house built by his father and two uncles. A graduate of Rice University, he was the only family member to go to college.

After receiving his law degree from Harvard Law School, Gonzales joined the law firm of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. in Houston where he later became a partner. In 1995, he was named general counsel to then-Texas Governor George W. Bush, eventually rising to serve as Secretary of State of Texas in 1997 and as Justice to the Texas Supreme Court in 1999.

Today, Gonzales works in the government relations, government investigations, and white-collar defense areas for Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP, one of Nashville's largest law firms. Additionally, he began teaching at Belmont University College of Law in January 2012 as the Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law. Gonzales shares insights from his extensive career, focusing on homeland security, the privilege of public service, and the enduring values of faith, family, and freedom.

Among the many boards he has served on are Big Brothers and Sisters, Catholic Charities, the State Bar of Texas, and the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. He served as President of the Houston Hispanic Bar Association, President of Leadership Houston, and President of the Houston Hispanic Forum.

Gonzales's contributions to law have been widely recognized. Among his many honors, he was inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame in 2003; received the Harvard Law School Association award in 2002. In 1999, he was named Latino Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association and, in 1997, received a Presidential Citation from the State Bar of Texas for his dedication to addressing basic legal needs of the indigent.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in Houston, Gonzales served in the United States Air Force from 1973 to 1975, and attended the United States Air Force Academy from 1975 to 1977. He and his wife, Rebecca Turner Gonzales, have three sons.