_ 1992-1996 _ Sarah Palin enters public life in Alaska, serving two terms on the Wasilla City Council.

_ 1996-2002 _ Palin is elected Wasilla mayor, serves two terms until term limits force her from office.

_ 2002 _ Palin loses her first statewide campaign for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.

_ 2002 _ Palin is named chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission by then-Gov. Frank Murkowski.

_ 2003 _ Palin splits with party leaders by exposing ethics violations by Randy Ruedrich, the head of Alaskas Republican Party and a fellow commissioner on the AOGCC.

_ 2006 _ Palin becomes Alaska governor after defeating the incumbent, Murkowski, in the primary and then beating a former governor in the general election.

_ August 2008 _ John McCain picks Palin as his vice presidential running mate in a startling selection that makes the Alaska governor the first woman named to a spot on a Republican national ticket.

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_ September 2008 _ An announcement that Palin's then 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant creates a stir as the governor prepares to accept her nomination at the Republican National Convention.

_ October 2008 _ Palin is investigated for the firing of a public safety commissioner who said he felt pressure from the governor, her husband and her staff to fire a state trooper who had gone through a divorce from Palin's sister. The Alaska Legislature finds Palin abused her power in office, but a report released by the Alaska Personnel Board on the eve of the election clears Palin of wrongdoing in Troopergate.

_ November 2008 _ McCain and Palin lose the 2008 presidential race.

_ June 2009 _ Palin blasts comedian David Letterman for making a joke about her daughter getting "knocked up" by New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez. Letterman apologizes.

_ July 2009 _ Palin makes a surprise announcement, saying she is resigning from her post as governor at the end of the month.