Charley Murphy, 43, House Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, was born and raised in Burlington, Massachusetts, where he and his wife, Nan, an elementary school assistant principal, are now raising their two daughters, Amelia and Grace.

After graduating from the Burlington school system, Charley went on to attend Villanova University. As a second year law student at Vermont Law School, Charley joined the US Marine Corps, where he served from 1989 to 1994 and rose to the rank of Captain. Stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina, Charley served a six-month tour as the Staff Judge Advocate for the commanding officer aboard the USS Guadalcanal that deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Mogadishu, Somalia as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. During his time in North Carolina, Charley also served as a military prosecutor and Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He returned home to New England following his military service and attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Charley was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1997 and is currently serving his eighth term. He was recently appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means.