Topic: Brian Schweitzer

Brian David Schweitzer (born September 4, 1955) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60 percent. Schweitzer chairs the Western Governors Association and formerly chaired the Democratic Governors Association.

Schweitzer was born in Havre, Montana, the fourth of six children of Kathleen (née McKernan) and Adam Schweitzer. His maternal grandparents were Irish and his paternal grandparents were ethnic Germans from present-day Russia and Ukraine. Following his high school years at The Abbey in Canon City, Colorado, Schweitzer earned his Bachelor of Science degree in international agronomy from Colorado State University in 1978 and a Master of Science in soil science from Montana State University, Bozeman in 1980.

Upon finishing school, Schweitzer worked as an irrigation developer on projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. He spent several years working in Libya and Saudi Arabia and speaks Arabic. He returned to Montana in 1986 to launch a ranching and irrigation business in Whitefish.