His Excellency Julius Maada Bio was elected President of Sierra Leone in 2018, winning 51.8% of he vote. He ran on a five-pillar platform focused on transforming the country’s economy, human development, improving governance, improving infrastructure, and overhauling financing of the public sector.

Prior to being elected President, H.E. was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bradford in the U.K. pursuing a Doctorate in Peace Studies. H.E. has a long history of public service, beginning with joining the Sierra Leone Army where he rose to the rank of Brigadier. He was a member of a group of military officers who led a bloodless coup in 1992 against the regime of President Joseph Saidu Momoh. During the period of 1992-1996 when the country was attempting to transition to democracy, Bio served as Chief Secretary of State, Chief of Defense Staff, Minister of Information, Minister of Marine Resources, Deputy Head of State, and Head of State. As Head of State in 1996, H.E. oversaw the first democratic elections in Sierra Leone in three decades. Following that election, Bio retired from the military and lived temporarily in the United States where he pursued a Masters in International Affairs at American University.