Governor Bev Perdue

BEV PERDUE was sworn in as the 73rd governor of North Carolina, and the state’s first woman governor, in January 2009.

Perdue was elected North Carolina’s first female Lt. Governor in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004. As Lt. Governor, Perdue led North Carolina’s efforts during the Defense Department’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, successfully protecting North Carolina’s Military bases worth $18 billion and 350,000 jobs to the state’s economy. As governor, Perdue launched the NC Military Foundation to attract 21st Century defense, aerospace and homeland security jobs to North Carolina. She also created the Green Business Fund to make environmental innovation investments in alternative fuels, green and construction and other clean energy technologies.

During her early career, Perdue worked as a school teacher and a health care consultant. Perdue’s political career began in 1986 when she was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives for two terms. In 1990, she was elected to the North Carolina Senate where she was ranked among the top six most effective legislators.

Perdue attended the University of Kentucky and earned a bachelor of arts in history. She also holds a master’s in community college education and a doctorate in education administration from the University of Florida.