Lightfoot served eight years in the United States Army and United States Army Reserve. He began his adult career working for IBM as a customer engineer, and was eventually transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He then worked as a city police officer. Returning to his native Iowa in the early 1960s, Lightfoot became a broadcaster on KMA radio, the flagship station of May Broadcasting Company. While at KMA, Lightfoot was also well known as a rodeo announcer and sought-after speaker for various organizations’ events. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984, after five-term incumbent Tom Harkin gave up the seat to make a successful run for the United States Senate. Lightfoot served there for six terms, compiling a mostly conservative voting record. During his last term, he served as chairman of the subcommittee of the United States House Committee on Appropriations which funded the Treasury Department, Postal Service, White House and other federal agencies. Lightfoot also spent eight years on the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation dealing with transportation issues. He holds commercial pilot and flight instructor ratings, which have allowed him a wide perspective on the aviation industry. In 1996, conforming to a promise to only serve twelve years in the House of Representatives, he left his seat to run for the Senate against Harkin. His entry into the race came in March, very late in the election cycle. At a severe financial disadvantage, Lightfoot lost the race, after strong pre-election campaigning on Harkin's behalf by Bill Clinton, who carried Iowa by eight points in the presidential election. In 1998, at the request of the Republican Party, he ran against then state senator Tom Vilsack for Governor of Iowa. Lightfoot led in polling for most of the campaign, but Harkin's campaigning on Vilsack's behalf enabled Vilsack to win narrowly. In December 1998 Lightfoot joined Forensic Technology, Inc. as Vice President. Lightfoot also serves on the company's Board of Directors. Lightfoot was Senior Policy Advisor for Federal Government Relations, with the Washington, D.C., office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. He was a non-attorney professional in the firm's Federal Government Relations Section. In 2009, Lightfoot started his own consulting firmLightfoot Strategies Lightfoot’s personal and professional awards include the Oscar in Agriculture Award, Jason Award, AOPA Hartranft Award, FAA Excellence Award, Honorary ATF Agent, the National Association of Police Organizations TOP COPS Award and Secret Service Director's Award. He serves on the board of directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children NCMEC named Lightfoot Emeritus Director in 2006.
Personal life
Lightfoot and wife Nancy reside in White Oak, Texas. They have four children.
