Gil Cisneros

Gilbert "Gil" Ray Cisneros Jr. was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1971. He served as a U.S. Navy officer for ten years after graduating from George Washington University on a Naval ROTC scholarship. In 2010, Cisneros and his wife won a lottery jackpot and established The Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation, focusing on providing educational opportunities for Hispanic students. He previously represented California's 39th congressional district from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed Cisneros as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, a role he held until September 2023. He was elected to represent the 31st district in November 2024. Cisneros holds a B.A. in Political Science from George Washington University, an M.B.A. from Regis University, and a Master's in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.