Tulsi Gabbard: from Hawaiian surfer to U.S. Intelligence Chief 

Tulsi Gabbard is a name you've likely heard of if you keep up with American politics. If you haven't, her presence has recently become even larger, with President Donald Trump naming her as the Director of National Intelligence, one of the key figures in his administration when it comes to providing intelligence to the President, members of Congress, and other important government officials. 

Aside from her work in politics, Gabbard is an interesting figure. She has often discussed her love of surfing, her experiences serving in the military, and her run for President in 2020. Here's what we know about her:

Gabbard is a politician and military officer

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Gabbard's career in the military began in 2003 when she joined the Hawaii Army National Guard. She then served in Iraq and Kuwait, receiving a Combat Medical Badge for her service.

In 2012, she was elected to Congress and even ran for President in 2020 as a Democratic candidate. Last year, she endorsed Trump for President, becoming a member of his cabinet. This past February, Gabbard was sworn in as the US' eighth Director of National Intelligence. 

Her husband is Abraham Williams

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Gabbard is married to Abraham Williams, a filmmaker, and surfer from New Zealand. Williams has worked on various films, including "Decade of the Dead," "Go for Broke," "Down on the Sidewalk in Waikiki," and more. The pair reportedly met in 2012, bonding over their love of watersports. 

Gabbard shared the story of his proposal in an interview with The New York Times. “He paddled over, pulled out a double-tethered contraption attached to a gold duct-tape-covered flotation device with a beautiful ring attached, and said, ‘I have a question for you: Will you marry me?’”

She was previously married to Eduardo Tamayo. 

Gabbard practices Hinduism

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According to various reports, Gabbard practices Hinduism, incorporating the religious belief system into her life ever since she was a child. India TV News reports that Gabbard's mother, Carol Porter Gabbard, adopted Hinduism in the '70s, teaching the practice to her children and family.

While she has no Indian heritage, Gabbard became the first Hindu to serve in Congress. 

Surfing is one of the practices she values the most

In various speeches, Gabbard has noted the importance of surfing, explaining that she uses that mentality in every facet of her life. "On a deeply personal level, I try to get in the ocean as much as possible," she said in a town hall in New Hampshire.

"It’s magic, man! It’s magic," she said of the experience of surfing. "It’s hard to describe. The renewal you get from the ocean and across mother nature keeps us centered and connected to our planet.”