Donald Rumsfeld was an American politician and businessman who served as the United States Secretary of Defense twice, first under Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977 and later under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. He played a significant role in shaping U.S. military policy during the Iraq War and the War on Terror following the September 11 attacks in 2001. Rumsfeld was born on July 9, 1932, in Evanston, Illinois. He had a long career in public service, including positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and as the U.S. Ambassador to NATO. He passed away on June 29, 2021.