ERNST, Joni, a Senator from Iowa; born in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa, July 1, 1970; B.A., Iowa State University, 1992; M.P.A., Columbus College (now Columbus State University), Columbus, Ga., 1995; United States Army Reserves, 1993-2001; Iowa Army National Guard, 2001-present, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel; auditor of Montgomery County, Iowa, 2005-2011; member of the Iowa state senate 2011-2014; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 2014 for the term ending January 3, 2021.