Ray LaHood

Senior Policy Advisor Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has extensive experience on major national policy issues, with more than 36 years in public administration. He served as the 16th Department of Transportation Secretary from 2009 to 2013 and quickly became known as a fair leader and skilled conciliator in a highly volatile environment. Ray’s tenure marked landmark efforts to improve safety in every mode of transportation, from aviation and rail to pipelines and automobiles. Under his leadership, improvements to America’s infrastructure included building or replacing 350,000 miles of highway, repairing 20,000 bridges and renewing or constructing 6,000 miles of rail track. He also achieved more stringent fuel efficiency requirements from automakers, took steps to address airline pilot fatigue and turned the problem of distracted driving into a national concern Before heading the US Department of Transportation, Ray served from 1995 to 2009 in the US House of Representatives on behalf of the 18th District of Illinois and also served on various House committees, among them the powerful House Appropriations Committee and the House Intelligence Committee. Ray earned his Bachelor of Science degree in education and sociology from Bradley University.