Kevin Techau is a sixth generation, lifelong Iowan who has dedicated his life to making things safer for Iowa’s families and standing up for what’s right. Techau’s work includes over twenty-six years of service in the U.S. Air Force and Iowa Air National Guard; leading state law enforcement as Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety; and leading an office that prosecuted violent crime, immigration crimes, drug trafficking, environmental crimes, and health care fraud as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. Throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated the ability to bring people together to tackle our toughest problems and deliver real results for the people of Iowa.
Techau’s Iowa roots of public service go back generations. After enlisting in the Navy at 19, Techau’s dad, Kenneth Techau, served during the Korean War – serving on the U.S.S. Renshaw, a destroyer in the Pacific fleet. He was the first in his family to go to college, graduating from Upper Iowa University — with help from the GI Bill. Techau’s dad spent his career working for the Social Security Administration in communities across Iowa. He served two terms on the Marion Independent School Board and one term on the Marion City Council.
From his parents, Kevin learned the importance of hard work, community, and public service. After graduating from Marion High School, where he was an athlete on the football, basketball, track, and baseball teams (later inducted in the Marion High School Athletic Hall of Fame), Techau worked third shift on the assembly line making circuit breakers at the Square D Company in Cedar Rapids. He then worked summers as a track laborer on the Chicago North Western Railroad, which helped him pay for college at the University of Iowa. Techau is a double Hawkeye, graduating from the University of Iowa with an undergraduate business degree and law degree. The University of Iowa recognized his work with the Iowa Public Health Heroes Award and Hawkeye Distinguished Veteran Award.
Following in his family’s military service tradition, Techau was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force, where he served seven years on active duty, and then nearly 20 years as an officer in the Iowa Air National Guard, earning the rank of Colonel and receiving the Legion of Merit medal.
As a member of Governor Tom Vilsack’s administration, Techau oversaw law enforcement as Iowa Commissioner of Public Safety. As Commissioner, Techau had responsibility for the Department of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office and Traffic Safety Bureau. Among his accomplishments, Techau led the implementation of Iowa’s Amber Alert system for missing children, stood up the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children program to keep kids safe from online predators, enhanced the Drug Endangered Children Program, launched the Sex Offender Registry, fought for increased funding and training for firefighters, and increased state crime lab capacity. The Blank Children’s Hospital recognized Techau with the Safe Kids Iowa Leadership for his work as Commissioner of Public Safety.
In 2013, Senator Tom Harkin recommended Techau as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. After he was nominated by President Obama – and received the support of Senator Chuck Grassley–Techau was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, by Republicans and Democrats alike. As the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Techau oversaw the prosecution of federal crimes and was the top federal law enforcement official for 52 Iowa counties. As U.S. Attorney, Techau led an office that successfully prosecuted high-profile business crime, drug trafficking, environmental crime, gun violence, immigration crimes and health care fraud. Cedar Rapids Chief of Police Wayne Jerman praised Techau as “instrumental in stepping up the fight against the opioid crisis,” highlighting Techau’s service in tackling gun violence and drug trafficking.
Techau also served his local community as Board President and Board member of Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees for fifteen years, where he helped lead the strategy for development, planning, and community outreach to execute the $44 million public-private, 10-year library revitalization plan for the six-building system. Results included a new Central library and the first LEED platinum-certified public building in Iowa. His service has included serving on the Board of the Community Health Free Clinic, Keep Iowa Beautiful and the Des Moines Area Religious Council an interfaith organization with a core membership of 137 congregations from ten faith traditions providing food assistance for families through the operation of the Food Pantry Network, one of the largest emergency food pantry systems in Iowa.
Techau and his wife Stephanie, who is a Cedar Falls, Iowa native and lawyer, have been married for 28 years. They have two adult children.
Together, we can tackle our toughest problems and deliver real results for the people of Iowa.
