Incumbent Assumed office  January 6, 2009 United States Senator from Massachusetts Incumbent Assumed office  January 2, 1985 Serving with Scott Brown Preceded by Paul Tsongas Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship In office January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2009 Preceded by Olympia Snowe Succeeded by Mary Landrieu In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 Preceded by Kit Bond Succeeded by Olympia Snowe In office January 3 – January 20, 2001 Preceded by Kit Bond Succeeded by Kit Bond Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs In office August 2, 1991 – January 2, 1993 66th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts In office March 6, 1983 – January 2, 1985 Governor Michael Dukakis Preceded by Thomas P. O'Neill III Succeeded by Evelyn Murphy (1987) Born December 11, 1943 (1943-12-11) (age 67) Aurora, Colorado Nationality U.S. Citizen Spouse(s) Julia Thorne (divorced) Teresa Heinz Children Alexandra Kerry Vanessa Kerry H. John Heinz IV (stepson) Andre Heinz (stepson) Christopher Heinz (stepson) Residence Boston, Massachusetts Alma mater Yale University (B.A.) Boston College (J.D.) Occupation Attorney Religion Roman Catholic Signature Website kerry.senate.gov Military service Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Navy Years of service 1966–1970 Rank Lieutenant Unit USS Gridley Coastal Squadron 1 Commands PCF-44, PCF-94 Battles/wars Vietnam War Awards Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart (3) John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He became the senior Senator from Massachusetts after the 2009 death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. He is currently the 10th most senior Senator. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost by 34 electoral votes to incumbent President George W. Bush. Senator Kerry is a decorated Vietnam veteran, and was a spokesman for Vietnam Veterans Against the War when he returned home from service. Before entering the Senate, he served as an Assistant District Attorney and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts under Michael Dukakis, who ran for President in 1988..