Terry E. Branstad is a former four-term governor of Iowa, first elected in 1983. Prior to this, he served three-terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and was the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. During his tenure Iowa became the first state within the United States to link every school district in a fiberoptic network.

In 1997, he chaired the Education Commission of the States, Republican Governors Association, and the Governors' Ethanol Coalition. He served as Chair of the National Governors' Association during 1989-90.

Branstad was a U.S. Army serviceman between 1969-71 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.