Jake McGee, Class of 2004
From TFA to the State Department: Jake McGee’s Journey of Faith, Friendship, and Leadership
When Jake McGee walked into The First Academy as a fourth grader in 1995, he was unhappy. Leaving behind familiar friends at his former Christian school felt like starting over. But almost immediately, TFA became more than just a new school—it became a home.
His teachers were intentional, his classmates welcoming, and before long, Jake found himself forming friendships that would last a lifetime. In fact, many of the TFA students he met in fourth grade remain his closest friends today.
Reflecting on his years at TFA, Jake points to The First Academy as the single most influential academic institution in his life—more impactful than college, law school, or even seminary. “TFA shaped me both academically and spiritually and prepared me to live as a faithful Christian for the rest of my life,” he explains. Lessons from his Upper School years still guide him, whether in matters of faith or in navigating the challenges of his professional life.
A Sense of Belonging
What set TFA apart for Jake wasn’t just the academics; it was the teachers. They cared deeply about his intellectual growth, as well as his character and spiritual maturity. Their investment in him left a mark that shaped not only who he was as a student but who he would become as a man.
One of Jake’s most vivid memories is his senior ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. Seeing snow for the first time and skiing with lifelong friends was a “capstone moment” that perfectly captured the joy, camaraderie, and sense of belonging that defined his TFA experience.
A Foundation for a Career of Global Impact
That foundation has carried Jake into a remarkable career of global impact. Today, he serves as the Senior Bureau Official in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. His career has spanned international trade law, criminal litigation, congressional investigations, U.S. sanctions, and compliance advising for multinational corporations, as well as years spent living and working in the Middle East, where he coordinated cross-cultural exchanges, recruited executives, and taught English in a refugee camp near the border of Syria. Fluent in Arabic and seasoned in navigating complex international issues, Jake now stands at the forefront of promoting democratic freedoms and human rights worldwide.
Looking back, Jake credits TFA with giving him both the confidence and conviction to pursue such a path. “TFA set a spiritual and academic foundation for my life that has stayed with me for over 20 years,” he says. It’s a foundation that carried him through rigorous studies at the University of Florida, Southern Seminary, and the University of Chicago Law School, and continues to guide him today as he represents the United States on the world stage.
For Jake McGee, TFA wasn’t just a school. It was the place that shaped his faith, his friendships, and his future.
