inventor, entrepreneur John D. Hertz – businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder, and philanthropist, one of the earliest owners of The Hertz Corporation (born in small village in central Slovakia) iJustine – blogger Travis Kalanick – founder of Uber (paternal grandfather was a Slovak immigrant from Valaškovce) Frank Lowy – owner and manager of Westfield-branded shopping centers Anna Olson – restaurant owner Law and politics Michael Badnarik – software engineer, political figure, and radio talk show host Mark Critz – U.S. Congressman William T. Dzurilla – international attorney and law clerk to Justice Byron White of the United States Supreme Court Carolyn Forché – professor, poet, editor, and human rights advocate John Mica – Republican former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida Joseph M. Gaydos – Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania Peter P. Jurchak – legal counsel for the United Mine Workers John Katko – U.S. Representative from New York Vincent Obsitnik – diplomat born in Slovakia, former Ambassador of the United States of America to Slovakia Tom Ridge – Republican, 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania and 1st Secretary of United States Department of Homeland Security John Roberts – Chief Justice of the United States Philip Ruppe – U.S. Representative Claudine Schneider – U.S. Representative from Rhode Island Joe Sestak – U.S. Representative, Democrat, Pennsylvania 7th District; retired US Naval vice-admiral; democratic presidential candidate in 2020 election John Slezak - was United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1954 to 1955 Judy Baar Topinka – Republican politician in Illinois Jesse Ventura – 38th Governor of Minnesota, wrestler, television personality Pete Visclosky – U.S. Representative for Indiana's 1st congressional district Military Štefan Banič – constructor of a parachute-like device which he donated to the US Army, but was not used Joseph E. Durik – Seaman Apprentice of United States Naval Reserve Matej Kocak – Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps; double Medal of Honor recipient in World War I Richard Marcinko – U.S. Navy SEAL and founder of SEAL Team 6 Michael Strank – Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, one of the six flag-raisers who helped raise the second U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945 Religion Joseph Victor Adamec – bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown David A. Bednar – member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day