Mitch Daniels

With over 40 years of successful economic stewardship in the private and public sectors and one of the most effective governors in Indiana’s history, Mitch Daniels offers incisive analysis and solutions for the key fiscal, economic and education challenges facing Americans today. When he took office in 2005—facing an $800 million deficit—Daniels began work immediately creating the first Office of Management and Budget and establishing the public-private Indiana Economic Development Corporation which, in its first four years of existence, broke all previous records for new jobs in the state and was associated with more than $18 billion of new investment. When Daniels left office eight years later, The Washington Post described him as “arguably the most ambitious, effective conservative governor in America.” He reduced the state’s overall debt by 43 percent, and balanced a series of budgets while reducing taxes, leaving Indiana with a $500 million yearly surplus and $2 billion in reserves as well as giving Indiana taxpayers a substantial tax refund. Today, Indiana is near the top of every national ranking of business attractiveness, the top job-creating state in the nation, enjoys a AAA credit rating (the first in state history) and has the fewest state employees per capita in the U.S. Daniels’ innovations include the largest privatization of public infrastructure in American history to date, generating nearly $4 billion which he used to create the nation’s largest transportation construction and repair program. He also spearheaded one of the most widespread education reforms in the country, including revising teacher evaluations, improving funding for early childhood education and increasing access to post-secondary schooling. Daniels’ fervent passion for educational excellence continues in his presidency at Purdue University. His vast experience in the public and private sectors includes serving as director, Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush (2001-2003), president of North American Pharmaceutical Operations and other top posts for Eli Lilly and senior advisor to President Ronald Reagan. The recipient of numerous awards including the inaugural Medal for Distinguished Service to Education, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, and the Alexander Hamilton Award. In 2015, Forbes named Daniels to their list of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. Daniels is the best-selling author of Keeping the Republic: Saving America by Trusting Americans.