In this episode of NTD’s “Profiles of Service,” we feature Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.). A fifth-generation Montanan, Daines credits his parents—especially his father, a Marine Corps veteran and small business owner—for shaping his perspective on servant leadership.
“I watched my father start a little construction business and work hard to keep food on the table,” Daines says. “These values of humility and service are ones we’re passing down to our children and grandchildren.”
Before entering public service, Daines graduated with a degree in chemical engineering—a rare path to politics. He spent 28 years in the private sector.
“Profiles of Service” is an NTD News series that features the men and women who have chosen to dedicate themselves to public service. At a time of low trust in the political process—according to a recent Gallup poll, 57 percent of the country has “very little” confidence in Congress—we launched the series as a way to get to know our elected officials on a different level. We ask them about the challenges and rewards of being in office, why public service matters, and what inspiration they can offer the next generation of potential leaders.