Stephanie Murphy
VietnamEarly Life and Family
Stephanie Murphy was born in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam, on September 16, 1978. At the age of six months, she fled the country with her parents after the Viet Cong captured South Vietnam in 1979. Their boat ran out of fuel during their sea voyage, and they were rescued by the United States Navy. Her family settled in Northern Virginia, where she grew up.
Education and Career
With the help of Pell Grants and student loans, Murphy attended the College of William & Mary, earning a bachelor's degree in economics. She then attended Georgetown University, where she received a Master of Science in Foreign Service.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Murphy joined the U.S. Department of Defense as a National Security Specialist. She later worked as an investment project and government initiatives manager at Sungate Capital in Winter Park, and as a business professor at Rollins College.
Political Career
On January 3, 2017, Murphy was elected as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 7th Congressional District, defeating incumbent John Mica. She has advocated for an FBI investigation into bomb threats against Jewish institutions. She joined the Blue Dog Coalition in the 115th United States Congress and was named as one of three co-chairs in December 2018 in the 116th United States Congress.
