Dana Perino is perhaps best known for her services under the George W. Bush administration as a spokeswoman for the 24th Congress of the United States, a position she assumed after her predecessor resigned after an illness and the need to work in the private sector. She is also the second female press secretary after the term of Dee Dee Myer under the Clinton administration. She has left the White House and uses her political expertise as a commentator at Fox News, where she co-hosts The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino. With a podcast, two books, and even part-time teaching in her repertoire, it is safe to say that Perino is a lady of many talents.
Who is Dana Perino?
The former White House press secretary and political commentator were born on May 9, 1972, as Dana Marie Perino in the county seat of Evanston, Wyoming. Although she was born in Wyoming, her family moved to Denver, Colorado, where she grew up. She attended Ponderosa High School in the suburb of Parker, Denver. After high school, she enrolled at Colorado State University to study mass communication. She graduated with a major in Mass Communications with a minor in Political Science and Spanish.
During her studies, she was part of the school’s public speaking team. She also worked at KTSC-TV, the campus branch of Rocky Mountain PBS. She also gained experience in the radio world by working at the radio station KCCY-FM as a country music DJ from 2 am to 6 am. Dana Perino furthered her education by earning a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Illinois. During her stay in Illinois, she worked for the WCIA television station as a daily reporter.
Her Career History and Accomplishments
After finishing school, Dana Perino moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as an assistant to Congressman Scott McInnis. She then served for four years as Congressman Dan Schaefer’s press secretary. After Schaefer retired in 1998, Perino moved to the United Kingdom with her husband (Peter McMahon) and returned to the States in 2001. Upon her return, she became a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and served in that capacity for two years.
ALSO READ: Bethany Joy Lenz Married, Husband, Daughter, Body Measurements
Dana Perino first joined the White House staff in 2001, as Deputy Director of Communications for the Environmental Quality Council. In 2006, Dana joined the White House staff as deputy press secretary, while her boss, Tony Snow, was fighting colorectal cancer. After a round of chemotherapy, Snow announced plans to move to the private sector, leaving the position of Press Secretary Perino open. She served under former President George W. Bush, who announced Snow’s resignation in 2007.
After her White House tenure, Dana Perino joined Fox News as a political commentator and co-host of the station’s talk show, The Five. Former US President Barack Obama would appoint her to the Radio Board of Governors later in 2009 – an appointment that was confirmed by the Senate in 2010. In addition to her service in the political world, Dana has also worked as a part-time teacher for a class in political communication at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. She has expanded her repertoire by taking over as head of the Crown Publishing Group editorial staff in March 2011. She is co-hosting a podcast at Fox News entitled Perino & Stirewalt: I’ll Tell You What.
Dana Perino has had a pretty impressive career. With the various positions she has held so far, she has undoubtedly earned a good living. As a White House press secretary, she received an annual salary of $172,200. Since joining Fox News, she has received an annual salary in excess of $250,000. As one of the highest-earning female news reporters, Dana Perino has a net worth of $4 million.
What About Her Family and Spouse?
Dana Perino is of Italian descent. Her great-grandparents were immigrants who left their home country to settle in the United States. Her parents are Jan and Leo Perino. Her mother worked as a marketing assistant for a private nursing home while her father owned a grocery store in Denver. She also has a sister named Angie. She also mentioned that her uncle and aunt own a bowling alley in Rawlins, Wyoming, without revealing their names.
ALSO READ: Nicholas D’Agosto Bio, Married, Wife, Body Measurements, Family
Perino is married to the English businessman and entrepreneur Peter K. McMahon. McMahon was born on June 6, 1954, in Lancashire, England, and graduated from the University of Liverpool with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management. In 2006, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian food retailer Loblaw. In the same year, he also became an American citizen.
She met her husband Peter in 1997 on a flight to Chicago. The two sat together and almost immediately formed a strong bond. The duo called their love story “love on the first flight” and soon began dating the other. The relationship blossomed, and on September 30, 1998, they shared their vows and got married. The couple has no children. However, they have a dog named Jasper, and Perino has written a book about him: Let Me Tell You About Jasper…: How My Best Friend Became America’s Dog. The book was published in October 2016 with the audiobook with some lines spoken by McMahon. Perino and her husband live in their house in Bluffton, South Carolina.
