About
Congressman Derrick Van Orden is an American patriot, retired Navy SEAL, Christian, and the United States Representative for Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District.
Raised in abject rural poverty by his beloved mother, Carol, a fiery Irish farm girl, Derrick and his brother learned the values of hard work, self-reliance, speaking plainly, and never backing down from a just fight.
Derrick’s journey of public service began when he joined the Navy at 18. He proudly served our nation for 26 years, retiring as a Navy SEAL Senior Chief after five combat deployments and numerous other missions to troubled regions around the world.
Derrick’s first combat deployment was to Bosnia and Herzegovina, immediately following the signing of the Dayton Accords. It was there that he gained a deep appreciation for how unique and remarkable America is—and why she is worth not only emulating, but defending. He went on to serve multiple combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and also carried out missions across the Horn of Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America.
During his 2012 tour in Europe under the Obama administration, Derrick was responsible for planning Special Operations contingency operations across the continent. It was during this time that he witnessed firsthand how Americans pay the price when leaders fail to provide effective strength. This lesson hit tragically close to home with the deaths of his former teammate Ty Woods and fellow SEAL Glen Doherty during the terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy annex in Benghazi, Libya.
,.During his military service, Derrick also became involved in acting, starring in the motion picture Act of Valor. He continued his acting career with appearances in two more films and is a best-selling author of A Book of Man: A Navy SEAL’s Guide to the Lost Art of Manhood.
After retiring from the military, Derrick applied his leadership skills in the private sector, consulting with Fortune 500 companies, until he and Sara retired to their farm. Wanting to give back to the village that had been so welcoming, Derrick and Sara decided to reopen the village cafe. This led to a two-year adventure, culminating in the reestablishment of the Butternut Cafe as a gathering place for friends and family.
Derrick attended law school but, seeing the radical agenda being pushed by Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, decided to run for Congress. In November 2022, he was elected to represent the people of Wisconsin’s Third District.
He now serves on the House Agriculture Committee, House Veterans Affairs Committee, and House Armed Services Committee, where he fights every day for the people of Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District.
Derrick and his wife, Sara Jane, have four children and 13 grandchildren.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives write and vote on federal laws, including the federal budget. Each represents one district and serves a two-year term. Tax bills must start in the House, only the House can impeach federal officials, and members oversee federal agencies through their committees.