The Honorable Carl Levin
United States Senator
Democrat, Michigan
Carl Levin is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he has earned a reputation as a strong supporter of our national defense and an effective waste fighter. He was an early and consistent advocate of efforts to prepare the American military to combat terrorism and other emerging threats of the post-Cold War world. Senator Levin has been a strong advocate on behalf of our service men and women.
The National Guard Association of the United States presented Senator Levin with its 2004 Harry S. Truman Award for distinguished service in support of national defense. The award cited Levin's “long-standing, diligent and impassioned commitment on the readiness, morale and welfare of our military forces, their families and the modernization of our armed forces” that has had an “unparalleled and direct positive impact to the defense capabilities of the National Guard.”
In January 2003, the Secretary of the Navy cited Levin's "exceptional service to the Navy and Marine Corps" in presenting him its Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest award given to a civilian. In December 2002, WorldBoston, formerly the World Affairs Council of Boston, presented Levin with the 2002 Christian A. Herter Award in recognition of his role following September 11, 2001, in ensuring a bipartisan response to the threat to the United States. The Herter Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to improving international understanding.
Senator Levin also serves as the chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. For the last six years, he has directed his staff in a comprehensive money laundering investigation, which has led to strengthened U.S. anti-money laundering. In addition, Levin's work has supported international efforts to detect and stop money laundering and terrorist financing.
Carl Levin was born in 1934 in Detroit, where he graduated from Central High School. In 1956, he graduated with honors from Swarthmore College and graduated from Harvard University Law School in 1959. He practiced and taught law in Michigan until 1964 when he was appointed an assistant attorney general of Michigan and the first general counsel for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. He then helped establish the Detroit Public Defender's Office and led the Appellate Division of that office, which has become the State Appellate Defender's Office.
He won election to the Detroit City Council in 1969, becoming its president in 1973 by winning the most votes citywide. In 1978, he won an upset victory over the number two Republican in the U.S. Senate. He was reelected in 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2002.
Carl Levin married Barbara Halpern in 1961. They have three daughters: Kate, Laura and Erica, and five grandchildren. His brother Sander has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1983.