Norman Mineta (1931 – )

U.S. Secretary of Transportation (D), 2001 – 2006

Norman Mineta is the former Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton and Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush. Mineta was the only Democratic Cabinet Secretary in the Bush administration and first Asian American cabinet member during the Clinton administration. 

During World War II, Mineta and his family spent several years in a Japanese internment camp near Cody, Wyoming. Prior to his service in presidential cabinets, Mineta served as mayor of San Jose, California and then as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. While in Congress, Mineta co-founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and served as its first chair.

Having spent many years in public service, Mineta has received numerous awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the highest civilian honor in the United States—and the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy. He is well known for his work in economic development, science and technology policy, and leading the creation of the Transportation Security Administration following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.