Gary Locke

Gary Faye Locke is an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat, renowned as the first Chinese‑American governor in U.S. history when elected as the 21st Governor of Washington (1997–2005). Born in Seattle in 1950 to immigrant parents from Guangdong and Hong Kong, he grew up in public housing and learned English only after starting school Yale University (1972) and a JD from Boston University School of Law (1975), laying the groundwork for a remarkable career in public service .

As Governor, Locke gained acclaim for his pragmatic leadership, implementing performance-based budgeting, creating jobs, and increasing trade—particularly with Asia. Under his tenure, Washington was recognized as one of the best‑managed states in the U.S. iop.harvard.eduVanderbilt University. He later served in President Obama’s administration as U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2009–2011), then as the U.S. Ambassador to China (2011–2014), becoming the first Chinese‑American to hold those positions .