Amy Koch

Education

Koch graduated Buffalo High School in 1990 and attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. before deciding to join the Air Force in 1992. It was during her time in the military that she met and married Christopher Koch and gave birth to their daughter, Rachel.

She studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute in California, before being assigned to the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland. She graduated with honors at all stages of her military training and received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for her contribution to the intelligence community.

Koch received an honorable discharge in 1996. She attended St. Cloud State University, to finish her Bachelor's degree, and graduated in the spring of 1999.

In 2009, she completed an MBA program through Capella University.

Military service

In 1993, Koch was stationed in Fort Mead, Maryland to serve in the National Security Agency (NSA). While serving in the NSA she was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for the contributions to the intelligence community. Koch held a Top Secret clearance during her time at the National Security Agency.

In 1996, she received an honorable discharge from the Air Force.

Life and career

Upon receiving her honorable discharge in 1996, Amy returned to Buffalo, MN. She managed and expanded her family's utility service company over the next few years. Amy became active in Republican politics when she returned home. She campaigned for Mark Kennedy and Mary Kiffmeyer when they were first elected to their current offices. She also is a former Secretary and Vice Chair of the Senate District 19 Leadership Committee and has been a delegate to her BPOU, Congressional, and State conventions. Amy was also active in her community. She volunteered as an adult leader for 4-H and served as Vice Chair of the St. Francis Xavier Parish Council as well as Liaison to the Education Advisory Board.

A Republican, Koch was first elected to the Senate in a special election held on November 22, 2005, after Senator Mark Ourada announced his resignation effective December 31, 2005. She was re-elected in the 2006 and 2010 general elections. She previously served as an assistant minority leader,[4] and was the first woman to serve as Majority Leader, and the first Republican to do so since the end of the non-partisan era.

In 2011, Minnesota faced a $6.2 billion deficit. Majority Leader Koch helped integrate twenty new members of her caucus, while negotiating a challenging budget deficit that was turned into a surplus.

In 2016, Koch began working as a political strategist for Hylden Advocacy & Law.

Scandal

On December 15, 2011 Koch resigned from the Senate Majority Leader and announced that she would not seek re-election. Four Republican state senators indicated Koch had an "inappropriate" relationship with the state GOP communications chief Michael Brodkorb. On December 21, Koch apologized for "engaging in a relationship with a Senate staffer," admitted to making "mistakes and errors in judgment," and stated, "It is important that I spend time now focusing on the challenging days ahead as I work through some very personal issues."

She did not seek another term as senator.

Business owner

Koch is a part owner of HBK Properties LLC in Buffalo. In 2013, Koch bought Maple Lake Bowl, a bowling alley just north of her home in Buffalo, MN. Koch owned and operated the bowling alley until she sold it in the summer of 2016.