Maureen McDonnell, Virginia’s First Lady, is a native of Fairfax County, Virginia. She began her career working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and later worked for both the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Department of Defense. During the 1970s, Mrs. McDonnell was a member of the Redskinettes, now known as the Washington Redskin’s Cheerleaders.

Following her years of government service, Mrs. McDonnell launched a successful small business, marketing nutritional healthcare and consumer products, and for the past 13 years served as president of her own small company. Mrs. McDonnell has completed significant course work and has attended numerous health seminars throughout the United States to learn from some of the nation’s top healthcare providers how nutritional supplementation can improve a person’s health.

With over 25 years of experience in the area of nutritional healthcare, Mrs. McDonnell is an advocate for healthy living through nutrition and fitness. She is currently working with the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth on the issue of childhood obesity.

The first lady is also involved with numerous community and cultural organizations including Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., in support of military families, and she serves as chair of Friends of Virginia History’s Commission on Women, honorary chair of MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts, and a member of the Council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The first lady and her husband, Governor Bob McDonnell, have been married for 33 years. The McDonnell’s have five children, Jeanine, Cailin, Rachael and twins Bobby and Sean. Daughter Jeanine recently completed a tour of duty in Iraq as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army.