About this week’s episode: A hustler’s journey may not always start with confidence, but once found, can serve as the fuel for making brave decisions like no one before you has ever done. Being a trailblazer isn’t easy, but someone has to be first. Alexandra Chandler shares her story of transformation, inspiration, and how she’s answered her call of duty to run for office in a time where representation truly matters.
About our guest:Alexandra Chandler is currently a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts’s 3rd Congressional District.
Inspired by living in New York City as a law student through the 9/11 attacks, Alexandra started her national security career in 2004 as an intelligence analyst at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). From 2004 to 2016, she served in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating with her service as Division Chief from 2011-16. In that capacity, she led the Intelligence Community (IC)’s analytic effort against arms smuggling to war zones and the proliferation of WMD by sea, leading analysis against countries including North Korea and Iran. In 2006, she was the first employee ever to complete a gender transition at ONI, and one of the first analysts ever to do so while on the job in the Intelligence Community.
Outside of the Intelligence Community, Alexandra also served on the Board of Directors of Whitman Walker Health, including as Vice Chair, in which she played a key role in saving a community health center from bankruptcy and ensured continued high-quality healthcare specializing in LGBT health and HIV/AIDS treatment for over 16,000 patients annually. Alexandra is also a member of the Truman National Security Project Defense Council. She has published in the Washington Post, appeared on NPR All Things Considered, and spoken at academic, community, and corporate forums about her story as a transgender intelligence analyst and her perspectives on leadership and communication. Alexandra is a graduate of Brown University with an A.B. in International Relations and received her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. She is married to Catherine Chandler, her partner of 23 years, with whom she has two young sons, 5 and 2 years old. She lives in Haverhill, MA.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChandlerForCongress/
- Twitter: @a_chandler
- Instagram: alexandra_chandler
- Washington Post op-ed, “I serve my country as a transgender woman. I know we can overcome our divisions.”
- NPR, Life as a Transgender Intelligence Analyst.
- NPR, Transgender Woman Runs for Massachusetts Congressional Seat.
- Millennial Politics profile on my candidacy
- Newsweek article on Alexandra’s candidacy
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Classic literature
- Personal projects
- Vacation
- Self-care
Listen to Alexandra’s episode here or on your favorite podcast app.
Hustle Over Entitlement™ 