Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio
A Maryland Republican who shifted from legislating to stewarding the state's waterways and wildlife as a cabinet secretary.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American politician·Birthday: April 30·Generation X
Biography
Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio built a political career rooted in Maryland's Eastern Shore. First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in her mid-twenties, she represented the rural 37B district for over a decade, developing a focus on environmental and agricultural policy. Her deep local ties and pragmatic approach caught the eye of Governor Larry Hogan, who in 2019 appointed her as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. In that role, she moved from crafting laws to executing them, overseeing the management of state parks, fisheries, and forests during a period of heightened focus on Chesapeake Bay restoration. Her tenure bridged a gap between conservative governance and conservation, emphasizing partnerships with watermen and farmers.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jeannie was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jeannie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Jeannie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Maryland's Secretary of Natural Resources from 2019 to 2023, managing the state's environmental resources.
- Represented District 37B in the Maryland House of Delegates for twelve years, from 2003 to 2015.
- Was the first female Republican from the Eastern Shore to serve as a state delegate.
Did You Know?
She is a graduate of Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.
Before politics, she worked in marketing and public relations.
She served as the Minority Whip in the Maryland House of Delegates.
“Policy should be built from the ground up, starting with our local watermen.”
