About Stephanie Murphy
Stephanie Murphy is a businesswoman, policy expert, and former U.S. Congresswoman
PRIVATE SECTOR
In strategy and investment roles, Murphy worked with businesses across a range of industries. As an executive at an investment firm, she evaluated business opportunities and worked with management teams to navigate regulatory and business risk. She provided strategic advice to senior executives at multinational companies while at Deloitte Consulting. In addition, she was an instructor of finance at Rollins College and helped launch the social entrepreneurship program on campus.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Murphy was a national security specialist at the U.S. Department of Defense, where she received numerous awards for her service, including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. She helped to shape U.S. policy in the Asia Pacific by fostering cooperation in capacity building, disaster preparedness, special operations, and counterterrorism. Murphy led the effort to set the Defense Department’s strategic direction and priorities for security cooperation and contingency planning. She also worked on budget and acquisitions for the U.S. Navy.
U.S. CONGRESS
In Congress, Murphy was known as an effective legislator cutting through partisan gridlock to establish an exceptional record of legislative success. Murphy was consistently named one of the most effective and bipartisan members of Congress during her three terms (from 2017 to 2023). She led the bipartisan effort to lift the federal gun violence research ban and created the tax benefit that enabled businesses to retain and rehire workers during the pandemic. Murphy was a key player in delivering historic infrastructure and climate investments. She also carved out a role as a leading Congressional voice on trade and national security policy.
Murphy served as co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of House Democrats focused on fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, and a principled and pragmatic approach to legislating. She also served as a Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. In these roles, Murphy helped to shape the House policy agenda. In addition to her leadership roles, Murphy served on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, Small Business Committee, and the historic Select Committee to Investigate the Jan 6th Attack on the Capitol.
EARLY LIFE
When Murphy was a baby, her family fled Vietnam by boat to escape persecution by the country’s communist government. After their boat ran out of fuel at sea, they were rescued by the U.S. Navy, who gave them the supplies they needed to make it to a Malaysian refugee camp. A Lutheran Church in Virginia then sponsored the family’s passage to the United States, where Murphy and her family became naturalized American citizens. Murphy was the first Vietnamese-American woman ever elected to the United States House of Representatives.
Murphy earned a B.A. in Economics from the College of William and Mary and an M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. In 2022, Murphy received honorary doctorate degrees from her alma mater, William and Mary, and from Gettysburg College.
She and her husband are the proud parents of two young children.
For a high-resolution headshot of Stephanie Murphy, click the image.