Thomas H. Kean

Born in New York City on April 21, 1935, Thomas H. Kean began his adult life as a teacher of history and government. But, by the age of 32, he had continued the Kean family's legacy of public service by winning a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.

After ten years with the New Jersey Assembly, Kean was elected governor of New Jersey in 1982. He served two full terms before becoming president of Drew University in 1990.

In December 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Kean to lead the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. It is widely considered the most important independent government commission since the Warren Commission.

Explaining his appointment of Kean as its chairman, President Bush said, "Tom Kean is a leader respected for integrity, fairness and good judgment. I am confident he will work to make the commission's investigation thorough."

Kean has a wife, Deborah, a daughter, Alexandra, and twin sons, Tom and Reed. They live in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. Kean's son, Tom Kean Jr., is considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey this year.