Cindy McCain

Cindy McCain (born Cindy Lou Hensley) is an American businesswoman, diplomat and humanitarian best known as the widow of Senator John McCain and current Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme. Cindy graduated from the University of Southern California in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in education before returning to pursue her masters in special education.

Cindy began her career as a special education teacher at Agua Fria High School in Arizona before founding the American Voluntary Medical Team in 1988 providing medical aid in disaster zones until 1995. After her father’s death in 2000 she became chair of Hensley & Co., one of the nation’s largest Anheuser‑Busch distributors.

She has served on boards for Operation Smile and the HALO Trust and has been active in anti‑human‑trafficking campaigns. In 2021, she was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture and in 2023 she was appointed Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

McCain married Senator John McCain on May 17, 1980 after meeting in 1979. The couple share children Meghan, John, Jimmy and Bridget. She became a widow following her husband’s death on August 25, 2018.