Tammy Duckworth, an Asian American who rose to prominence in Washington DC is an example of this. Duckworth was the child of an American father, and a Thai Chinese mom in Thailand. Her rise as vice-chair and senator for Illinois, as an Asian-American was beyond all expectations. She is vice-chair for the Democratic National Committee and has the power to oversee the operations of the party. This demonstrates her importance in politics. Her role is to ensure that the party has a plan of action for their candidate. Goldin, 2021, p.23). She also has to fulfill senate duties, such as legislative work and supervision. She has served on numerous committees including the Armed Service and Environment and Public Works.
Duckworth reached important milestones on the path to her power. Prior to enrolling in McKinley High School she studied at the Singapore American School and International School of Bangkok. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Hawaii in 1989. She was eventually awarded a master of arts in international affairs by George Washington University. After serving as an Army Reserve officer and duckworth received her commission as a pilot in a transport helicopter. (Goldin 2021, p. 23). After the destruction of an Iraqi combat aircraft she was piloting, Duckworth became America’s first woman to have both her legs amputated. She was forced to go back to school to complete her Ph.D. on human service. This had been her first attempt at entering the military. Duckworth’s recent success is due to her military experience as well as her degree. Her experience as a combat veteran in the Iraqi war might have been a factor in her popularity, and her ability to improve her political standing.