Julián Castro earned his B.A. from Stanford University with honors and distinction in 1996 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000. In 2001, Castro became the youngest elected city councilman in San Antonio history. A San Antonio native, Secretary Castro was then elected mayor of San Antonio in 2009 and was reelected in 2011 and 2013. 

As mayor, Castro focused on attracting well-paying jobs, raising educational attainment, and revitalizing the city’s urban center. In 2010, Castro was named to the World Economic Forum’s list of Young Global Leaders and Time magazine placed him on its “40 under 40” list of rising stars in American politics. 

Secretary Castro was sworn in as the 16th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on July 28, 2014. As secretary, Castro's focus is ensuring that HUD is a transparent, efficient, and an effective champion for the people it serves. 

Secretary Castro’s identical twin brother, Joaquin, serves in the U.S. House of Representatives.