The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
Secretary Chao is the first Asian-Pacific American woman to serve in the President’s cabinet in American history. She has been confirmed to two cabinet positions by the United States Senate on a bipartisan basis: U. S. Secretary of Labor and U. S. Secretary of Transportation. She is also the longest serving Cabinet Secretary since World War II.
As U. S. Secretary of Transportation, Secretary Chao focused on keeping the country’s transportation system safe and efficient; invested over $300 billion in infrastructure; and, promoted American innovation in autonomous vehicles, drones, and commercial space. During the COVID-19 crisis, Secretary Chao’s decisive actions kept America’s transportation networks safe and moving.
As U.S. Secretary of Labor, Secretary Chao focused on increasing the competitiveness of the American workforce in a global economy. She set new records for workplace safety and health and spearheaded the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, saving the pensions of 44 million Americans.
Prior to becoming U. S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao was President and CEO of United Way, where she restored public trust by reforming the governance structure and instilling a new culture of accountability and transparency after the organization had been tarnished by previous financial mismanagement and abuse.
Elaine Chao also served as Director of the Peace Corps, where she launched programs in the newly liberated Baltic nations and former Soviet Union, including Ukraine. She began her public service working on transportation and trade issues at the White House. She was promoted in rapid succession to Deputy Maritime Administrator, U. S. Department of Transportation where she helped promote and strengthen the U.S. merchant marine; Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission overseeing the regulation of international ocean transportation and ensuring a fair and competitive global shipping system; and Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation. In the private sector, Elaine worked as Vice President of Syndications at Bank of America and Citicorp.
Throughout her career, Secretary Chao has consistently advanced the importance of maritime infrastructure. As U.S. Secretary of Transportation, she played a key role in modernizing America’s maritime capabilities, most notably through the approval and funding of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs), which are critical training ships for state maritime academies and support both defense readiness and disaster response. Many credit her leadership as essential to the success of this program.
Born in Taiwan, she immigrated to America at the age of 8 not speaking English and received her citizenship at age 19. Elaine earned her undergraduate degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College, and her MBA from Harvard Business School. She is the recipient of 38 honorary degrees.
Secretary Chao is widely recognized for her leadership and commitment to public service. Her career reflects a unique combination of maritime knowledge, policy expertise, and global perspective, making her a defining figure in shaping modern U.S. transportation and maritime policy. Please visit her website: www.elainechao.com and her family’s quintessential American journey at Harvard Business School https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/chaofamily/