Alberto Reynaldo Gonzales (born August 4, 1955, in San Antonio, Texas) is an American attorney and former U.S. Attorney General under President George W. Bush, serving as the 80th United States Attorney General from 2005 to 2007. He grew up in a humble household in Houston, Texas, as the son of Mexican migrant worker parents. After graduating from Texas public high schools, he served in the U.S. Air Force (1973–1975) and attended the United States Air Force Academy (1975–1977) before earning a B.A. in political science from Rice University (1979) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1982). He practiced business law at Vinson & Elkins for 13 years, becoming a partner and also serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center. Gonzales entered public service in 1995 as general counsel to Texas Governor George W. Bush, later serving as Texas Secretary of State (1997–1999) and as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court (1999–2001). He became White House Counsel in 2001—the first Hispanic American in that role—and was a key legal enabler of Bush administration interrogation and surveillance policies, helping draft the USA PATRIOT Act and being involved in controversial policies like warrantless surveillance. Confirmed as Attorney General in February 2005, he oversaw federal prosecutions until his resignation on August 27, 2007, amid controversies including the dismissal of U.S. attorneys. Post-resignation, he transitioned to academia and consulting, teaching at Texas Tech University and serving as dean of Belmont University College of Law (since around 2012), with plans to step down in May 2026. He has also worked as Of Counsel at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, advised on government investigations, and serves as an independent director for Point72. Gonzales is married to Rebecca Turner Gonzales and has three sons. He has received awards for public service from institutions including Rice University and Harvard Law School.