Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg, commonly known as Pete Buttigieg, is an American politician, attorney, and former military officer. Born on January 19, 1982, in Hammond, Indiana, to a Maltese-American father, Joseph Buttigieg, who was a professor of literature, and a Norwegian-American mother, Anne Montgomery, who worked in public administration, Buttigieg grew up in South Bend, Indiana. He attended Harvard University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history and literature in 2004, and then studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, earning a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics in 2007. Following his education, Buttigieg worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 as an intelligence officer, earning the Bronze Star Medal.

Buttigieg entered politics as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, serving from 2012 to 2020. During his tenure, he focused on economic development, infrastructure improvements, and smart city initiatives, earning national recognition and the nickname 'Mayor Pete.' In 2019, he launched a presidential campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination, becoming the first openly gay major-party presidential candidate in U.S. history. Although he suspended his campaign after strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, he endorsed Joe Biden and later joined the Biden administration as the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation in 2021. In this role, Buttigieg oversaw transportation policy, including responses to supply chain issues, infrastructure investments via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and efforts to promote electric vehicles and public transit. He is married to Chasten Buttigieg, and they have two adopted children.

Buttigieg's career has been marked by his millennial perspective, advocacy for progressive policies on climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic equity, and his ability to bridge generational divides in the Democratic Party. He has authored books like 'Shortest Way Home' (2019) and 'Trust' (2020), reflecting on leadership and public service. As of 2025, he concluded his term as Secretary of Transportation, continuing to be a prominent figure in national politics.