Who Is Sean Duffy? From MTV to U.S. Secretary of Transportation and NASA Acting Chief

Sean Patrick Duffy was born on October 3, 1971. He formerly served for about three years on the crew at his Santa Cruz County High School and also developed proficiency as an equestrian. He has been the 20th U.S. Secretary of Transportation since January 2025. In July 2025, he became the acting administrator of NASA and is a Republican. During the period from 2011 to 2019, he sat as the Congressman for Wisconsin’s 7th district. He first got famous on The Real World: Boston and related MTV shows. Ashland County district attorney from 2002-2010, Mulvaney was then a member of Congress from 2011-2019; after Congress, he was a lobbyist and also co-hosted Fox Business. On November 18, 2024, Donald Trump chose him for Secretary of Transportation.

Early life and education

 Sean Duffy’s birthday is October 3, 1971, and he was born in Hayward, Wisconsin. A couple of his ethnic origins are Irish and German-like. He attended Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and graduated with a degree in marketing. He further went to obtain a JD at William Mitchell College of Law. Duffy started log rolling at 5. He started speed climbing at 13. 

District attorney (2002–2010)

Sean Duffy is a Republican. This filled the vacancy left by Michael Gableman. He was one of the 10 Republican electors on the 2008 presidential ballot in Wisconsin.

Elections

 Dave Obey, the 15-term Democratic incumbent, announced he wouldn’t run. Democratic state senator Julie Lassa got in the race. His resignation took effect three weeks later. He worked at his dad’s law firm after that. A Republican wave hit Congress that year. He credits his head start, grassroots work, fundraising, legal experience and voter frustration with the economy.

Secretary of Transportation (2025)

During his hearing on January 15, 2025, Mr. Duffy stated that his first trip would be to the storm-damaged Appalachian highways. Hurricane Helene flooded major interstates and many smaller roads and bridges. On February 10, 2025, he made his way toward western North Carolina. On the 22nd of January, the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee voted 28-0 for him. Then, on January 28, 2025, the full Senate offered its confirmation by a 77-22 vote. Several Democrats switched because of the Trump administration’s ongoing budget freeze.

Personal life

 They met while filming Road Rules: All Stars. In late 2011, they moved to Weston for better access to the Central Wisconsin Airport. This move helped with his weekly commute to Washington, D.C. 

Their ninth child, Valentina, who was born on October 1, had to face several health issues, including a heart ailment. So, the family landed in a new home in Mendham Township, New Jersey, in August 2021. They live there now together. 

Early Career in Law and Public Service

Since he also appeared in other MTV reality series, he met his woman, Rachel Campos, with whom he now has nine children. After his television career, he turned to practicing law. 

U.S. House of Representatives

In 2010, Sean Duffy ran for the U.S. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district. He represented a new wave of Republican members elected to Congress that very year. Sean Duffy served in Congress for over nine years before leaving in 2019. Among other things, he served on the Financial Services Committee, where he addressed matters relating to banking, housing, and insurance. He also co-chaired the Great Lakes Task Force, working on economic and environmental issues affecting the region. He decided to resign in 2019 to care for his newborn daughter, who was afflicted with a heart condition.

Post Congress and Cabinet Appointment

After Congress, he kind of flipped the script and entered the media, becoming a Fox News contributor and co-host. As a visible defender of conservative views and the Trump administration, he stayed in the public eye.

 The Senate confirmed him in January 2025. Duffy sits today at the helm of a major federal agency concerned with the nation’s infrastructure: highways, railways, and his pride and joy, aviation systems.

Sean Duffy – Interim NASA Chief

This means that Duffy, in an acting capacity, heads the space agency of the nation. Fox News reports that the nomination followed the withdrawal of a previous nominee, Jared Isaacman, who was supposedly rejected for his relationship with Elon Musk and the major contractor of NASA. President Trump praised Duffy’s “tremendous job” as Transportation Secretary, saying his management skills would be perfect for leading NASA’s big exploration and scientific missions.

Sean Duffy Net Worth

Sean Duffy’s net worth varies, according to OpenSecrets, a non-profit that tracks political spending in the US. For example, his net worth was $39,504 in 2018. Members of Congress can see their assets and liabilities on OpenSecrets’ financial disclosure.

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