| Rick Saccone | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 39th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | David Levdansky |
| Constituency | Part of Allegheny County Part of Washington County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 14, 1958 Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Yong Saccone |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | Weber State University University of Oklahoma Naval Postgraduate School University of Pittsburgh |
| Occupation | Legislator Professor |
| Website | www.repsaccone.com |
Rick Saccone is an American politician serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Saccone has represented the 39th District since 2011 and is a member of the Republican Party.[1]
During the 2011-12 session, Saccone has been appointed to serve on the following House committees: Children and Youth; Environmental Resources and Energy; Judiciary and Urban Affairs.
He served for more than a decade as a United States Air Force Counterintelligence and Special Agent conducting felony, criminal, fraud and counterintelligence investigations and operations worldwide.
After retiring from the USAF, Saccone remained in South Korea to work as a TV news anchor and later worked in international business for several corporations operating in South Korea and Central America. He later became a representative for an international organization implementing the Agreed Framework with North Korea. As the only American citizen living in North Korea during this time, Saccone gained diplomatic experience working and negotiating with international officials to build nuclear power plants.
Returning to the U.S to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, Saccone became a full-time professor at Saint Vincent College teaching Political Science, Government, International Business and other international courses.
When America went to war with Iraq, Saccone volunteered for an assignment to the U.S. Army as a civilian. He served in Baghdad and in the hotspot of Mosul as a Senior Counterintelligence Agent responsible for identifying, capturing and interrogating insurgents.
After returning to the United States and Saint Vincent College, Saccone embarked on a Fulbright-Hayes summer scholarship to Egypt studying Islam, history and politics, and an education and research scholarship to Africa.
Saccone has traveled to 69 countries; contributed numerous articles on international politics, business and culture to national and international newspapers such as USA Today, the Baltimore Sun and the Korea Times; and authored seven books on North and South Korea, and his eighth book on Iraq.
Saccone has served on the Elizabeth EMS Ambulance Board, the Elizabeth Forward School Board and many years as a church youth leader. He is a graduate and member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and a life member of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
During his school board service, Saccone was successful in his efforts to cut school property taxes twice, eliminate a wasteful spending project that was strongly opposed by the public, and increase the overall level of government transparency and accountability.
Saccone resides in Elizabeth Township with his wife, Yong. Married for 32 years, they are the parents of two sons, Nick and Matthew.[2]