Elaine L. Chao

Elaine L. Chao has had a distinguished career as a national and global leader in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She has been confirmed to two Cabinet positions by the United States Senate on a strong bipartisan basis. She served as both 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. She was the first Asian-Pacific American woman to serve in a President’s Cabinet in American history, as well as the longest serving Cabinet Secretary since World War II. Secretary Chao has held many corporate and board of director leadership positions in such organizations as News Corp., Ingersoll Rand, Protective Life, Wells Fargo and Dole Food Company. Secretary Chao was also President and CEO of United Way America, Director of the Peace Corps, and a banker with Citicorp and Bank of America. She is currently on the boards of Kroger Co., Hyliion Holdings Corp. and Embark Technology, Inc. She earned her master’s in business administration from Harvard Business School after receiving her undergraduate degree in Economics from Mount Holyoke College. Recognized for her extensive record of accomplishments and public service, she is also the recipient of 37 honorary doctorate degrees.