Ranking Member—SASC Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota
Responsibilities
- Rounds is the minority leader of a Senate subcommittee with primary responsibility over the policies and programs related to cyber forces and capabilities. One of seven subcommittees within the SASC, it has jurisdiction over Cyber Command and other cyber components within DoD.
Legislative Committees
- Serves on SASC’s Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, and the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. Also serves on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Foreign Relations; the Committee on Indian Affairs and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
- Co-founder of the Senate Regulations Caucus and a working member of 30 other caucuses—informal groups of members who share joint legislative objectives.
Political/Professional Career
- Senator from South Dakota since 2015.
- Governor of South Dakota (2003 to 2011).
- Member of the South Dakota State Senate (1991-2001). Senate majority leader for six years.
- A former partner in Fischer, Rounds & Associates, an insurance and real estate firm with offices in South Dakota.
- Current term ends in 2027.
Background
Education
- South Dakota State University – B.S. in Political Science (1977).
Personal
- Marion Michael “Mike” Rounds was born October 24, 1954, in Huron, SD— home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, 27 miles away.
- His mother was Joyce, née Reinartz. His father, Don Round, became the state’s first director of highway safety under Governor Joe Foss. He later worked as executive director of the South Dakota Petroleum Council. Mike credits his father for convincing him to seek the governorship against a well-funded political opponent.
- The oldest of 11 siblings, his younger brother, Tim Rounds, has served in the South Dakota House of Representatives since 2013 (24th District).
- Married in 1978 to Jean Vedvei whom he met while attending college. They have four adult children.
