Atif Qarni
19th Virginia Secretary of Education
In office
January 13, 2018 – November 24, 2021
GovernorRalph Northam
Preceded byDietra Trent
Succeeded byFran Bradford
Personal details
Born1978 (age 45–46)
Pakistan
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseFatima
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA)
George Mason University (MA)
Strayer University (MEd)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1996–2004
RankSergeant
UnitUnited States Marine Corps Reserve
Battles/warsIraq War

Atif Mustafa Qarni (born 1978) is an American teacher, former military non-commissioned officer, and Democratic politician who was appointed by Governor Ralph Northam as Virginia Secretary of Education.[1] Emigrating from Karachi, Pakistan, with his family at the age of ten, Qarni grew up in Parkville, Maryland, before moving to Manassas, Virginia, in 2005. He served in the United States Marine Corps, was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and rose to the rank of Sergeant.[2] He served as a paralegal at the international law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP before beginning a career in teaching. Qarni ran for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2013, losing to incumbent Bob Marshall, and for the Virginia Senate in 2015, losing the Democratic nomination to Jeremy McPike.

Electoral history

DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 13th district
Nov 5, 2013[3] General Robert G. Marshall Republican 8,946 51.33
Atif M. Qarni Democratic 8,448 48.47
Write Ins 35 0.20
Virginia Senate, 29th district
Jun 9, 2015[4] Primary Jeremy S. McPike Democratic 1,377 43.18
Atif M. Qarni Democratic 1,152 36.12
Michael T. Futrell Democratic 660 20.70
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References

  1. ↑ Times-Dispatch, GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond (21 December 2017). "Northam names Prince William civics teacher Atif Qarni as education secretary". Richmond.com. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  2. ↑ Khan, Hasan (August 5, 2016). "Footprints: Marine turned teacher countering Trump's rhetoric". Dawn.com. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ "November 2013 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  4. ↑ "June 2015 Democratic Primary Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
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