Home » Advocacy Awards » U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)

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THE EDWIN C. WHITEHEAD AWARD FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH ADVOCACY recognizes exemplary leaders, particularly those in public office, who have shown a long-standing commitment to advancing health research as a national priority and who galvanize others in support of science policy and funding.

A U.S. Senator for more than a decade, Chris Coons has worked hard to find bipartisan solutions to the issues facing Delaware, the country, and the world.

As the senior Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Defense, and Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, Senator Coons is committed to promoting and protecting fundamental American values around the globe. As a member of the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Senator Coons is focused on fostering American innovation and encouraging investment in research and development. He is also Vice Chairman of the bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Ethics.

Senator Coons earned his law degree from Yale Law School and has a master’s degree in Ethics from Yale Divinity School. Prior to entering public service, Senator Coons worked as in-house counsel for Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates, a global materials science company. Senator Coons served as president of the New Castle County Council from 2001 to 2005 and as New Castle County Executive from 2005 to 2010. In 2010, he won a special election to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate.

Senator Coons lives in Wilmington with his wife, Annie. They have three children.

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