Alek Skarlatos

Aleksander Reed Skarlatos is a Republican politician and former military officer who represents Oregon's 4th House District. Born on October 10, 1992, Skarlatos is a Greek-American who grew up in southern Oregon and currently resides in Douglas County with his wife Jessi, where they operate a ranch.

Skarlatos is best known for his heroic actions in August 2015, when he, along with four others, stopped an armed terrorist on a Paris-bound train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris. For his courage, he received the United States' Soldier's Medal, France's Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, and the Medal of the City of Arras. His story was featured in the 2018 Clint Eastwood film 15:17 to Paris.

Education and Military Service

Skarlatos attended Roseburg High School and Umpqua Community College. He served as an Oregon Army National Guardsman, achieving the rank of Specialist. He completed Air Assault School and Sniper School training and deployed to Afghanistan for nine months in 2015 with the U.S. Army National Guard's 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Political Experience

Before his current role, Skarlatos worked as National Development Director for the Freedom Foundation, a conservative nonprofit organization, and served as an advocate for Oregon's timber industry.

His electoral history includes unsuccessful bids for Douglas County Commissioner in 2018 and U.S. House races in 2020 and 2022, when he ran as the Republican candidate for Oregon's 4th Congressional District against Democrat Peter DeFazio. He won his 2024 campaign for the Oregon House of Representatives and began representing Oregon's 4th House District on January 13, 2025. In this role, he serves as Deputy Republican Caucus Leader and Vice-Chair of the House Committee for Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade. Oregon House District 4 encompasses communities in southern Douglas, Josephine, and Jackson Counties.