Julián Castro sat on Barack Obama’s cabinet from 2014 to 2017, serving as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. As Secretary, Castro focused on ensuring that HUD was a transparent, efficient and effective champion for the people it serves. 

In March 2010, Castro was named to the World Economic Forum's list of Young Global Leaders. Later that year, Time magazine placed him on its "40 under 40" list of rising stars in American politics.

Previously, Castro served as a member of the San Antonio City Council. He received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1996, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000. He and his wife, Erica, have a daughter, Carina. Castro is currently working on a memoir and widely considered a contender for the 2020 Presidency.