Before election to the Massachusetts Senate, Cronin attended the United States Military Academy and served two tours in Afghanistan as an Army infantry officer.

Cronin served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in an infantry company during his two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Throughout his time in the Massachusetts Senate, Cronin has been a staunch advocate for expanding funding for and access to workforce development programs.

He made increasing access to vocational high schools a pillar of his 2020 campaign, often tying the region’s long-term success to 21st-century industries like life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

During his first year in the Senate, Cronin secured $600,000 in seed funding for Innovation Pathway Programs (IPP), which provides high school students with the coursework and training to enter regionally aligned, high-demand industries directly after graduation.