United States Secretary of Transportation - wikipedia United States Secretary of Transportation `` Secretary of Transportation '' redirects here. For the position of the same name in the Cabinet of the Philippines, see Secretary of Transportation ( Philippines ). Secretary of Transportation of the United States Seal of the Department of Transportation Flag of the Secretary of Transportation Incumbent Elaine Chao since January 31, 2017 United States Department of Transportation Style Madam Secretary Member of Cabinet Reports to President Seat Washington, D.C. Appointer The President with Senate advice and consent Term length No fixed term Constituting instrument 49 U.S.C. § 102 Formation October 15, 1966 First holder Alan Stephenson Boyd Succession Fourteenth Deputy Deputy Secretary of Transportation Salary Executive Schedule, level 1 Website www.transportation.gov The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President 's Cabinet, and thirteenth in the Presidential Line of Succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966, by President Lyndon B. Johnson 's signing of the Department of Transportation Act. The Department 's mission is `` to develop and coordinate policies that will provide an efficient and economical national transportation system, with due regard for need, the environment, and the national defense. '' The Secretary of Transportation oversees eleven agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In April 2008, Mary Peters launched the official blog of the Secretary of Transportation called The Fast Lane. The first Secretary of Transportation was Alan Stephenson Boyd, nominated to the post by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson. Ronald Reagan 's second Secretary of Transportation, Elizabeth Dole, was the first female holder, and Mary Peters was the second. Gerald Ford 's nominee William Thaddeus Coleman, Jr. was the first African American to serve as Transportation Secretary, and Federico Peña, serving under Bill Clinton, was the first Hispanic to hold the position, subsequently becoming Secretary of Energy. Japanese - American Norman Mineta, who had previously been Secretary of Commerce, is the longest - serving Secretary, holding the post for over five and a half years, and Andrew Card is the shortest - serving Secretary, serving only eleven months. Neil Goldschmidt was the youngest secretary, taking office at age thirty nine, while Norman Mineta was the oldest, retiring at age seventy four. On January 23, 2009, the sixteenth secretary Ray LaHood took office, serving under the administration of Democrat Barack Obama ; he had previously been a Republican Congressman from Illinois for fourteen years. The salary of the Secretary of Transportation is $199,700. Anthony Foxx was the 17th US Secretary of Transportation from 2013 - 2017, when Donald Trump was elected President. Elaine Chao, who served as Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush, was nominated by President - elect Donald Trump on November 29, 2016. On January 31, 2017 the Senate confirmed her appointment by a vote of 93 - 6. Contents 1 List of Secretaries of Transportation 2 Line of succession 3 Living former Secretaries of Transportation 4 References 5 External links List of Secretaries of Transportation Parties Democratic ( 7 ) Republican ( 11 ) No. Image Name State of Residence Took office Left office President serving under Boyd, Alan S. Alan S. Boyd Florida 000000001967 - 01 - 16 - 0000 January 16, 1967 000000001969 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 1969 Johnson, Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson Volpe, John A. John A. Volpe Massachusetts 000000001969 - 01 - 22 - 0000 January 22, 1969 000000001973 - 02 - 02 - 0000 February 2, 1973 Nixon, Richard M. Richard M. Nixon Brinegar, Claude S. Claude S. Brinegar California 000000001973 - 02 - 02 - 0000 February 2, 1973 000000001975 - 02 - 01 - 0000 February 1, 1975 Gerald R. Ford Coleman, Jr., William T. William T. Coleman, Jr. Pennsylvania 000000001975 - 03 - 07 - 0000 March 7, 1975 000000001977 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 1977 5 Adams, Brock Brock Adams Washington 000000001977 - 01 - 23 - 0000 January 23, 1977 000000001979 - 07 - 20 - 0000 July 20, 1979 Carter, Jimmy Jimmy Carter 6 Goldschmidt, Neil E. Neil E. Goldschmidt Oregon 000000001979 - 08 - 15 - 0000 August 15, 1979 000000001981 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 1981 7 Lewis, Drew Drew Lewis Pennsylvania 000000001981 - 01 - 23 - 0000 January 23, 1981 000000001983 - 02 - 01 - 0000 February 1, 1983 Reagan, Ronald Ronald Reagan 8 Dole, Elizabeth H. Elizabeth H. Dole Kansas 000000001983 - 02 - 07 - 0000 February 7, 1983 000000001987 - 09 - 30 - 0000 September 30, 1987 9 Burnley IV, James H. James H. Burnley IV North Carolina 000000001987 - 12 - 03 - 0000 December 3, 1987 000000001989 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 1989 10 Skinner, Samuel K. Samuel K. Skinner Illinois 000000001989 - 02 - 06 - 0000 February 6, 1989 000000001991 - 12 - 13 - 0000 December 13, 1991 Bush, George H.W. George H.W. Bush 11 Card, Andrew H. Andrew H. Card Massachusetts 000000001992 - 02 - 24 - 0000 February 24, 1992 000000001993 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 1993 12 Peña, Federico Federico Peña Colorado 000000001993 - 01 - 21 - 0000 January 21, 1993 000000001997 - 02 - 14 - 0000 February 14, 1997 Clinton, Bill Bill Clinton 13 Slater, Rodney E. Rodney E. Slater Arkansas 000000001997 - 02 - 14 - 0000 February 14, 1997 000000002001 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 2001 14 Mineta, Norman Y. Norman Y. Mineta California 000000002001 - 01 - 25 - 0000 January 25, 2001 000000002006 - 08 - 07 - 0000 August 7, 2006 Bush, George W. George W. Bush 15 Peters, Mary E. Mary E. Peters Arizona 000000002006 - 10 - 17 - 0000 October 17, 2006 000000002009 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 2009 16 LaHood, Ray H. Ray H. LaHood Illinois 000000002009 - 01 - 23 - 0000 January 23, 2009 000000002013 - 07 - 02 - 0000 July 2, 2013 Obama, Barack Barack Obama 17 Foxx, Anthony R. Anthony R. Foxx North Carolina 000000002013 - 07 - 02 - 0000 July 2, 2013 000000002017 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 2017 -- Michael Huerta Acting California 000000002017 - 01 - 20 - 0000 January 20, 2017 000000002017 - 01 - 31 - 0000 January 31, 2017 Donald Trump 18 Elaine Chao Kentucky 000000002017 - 01 - 31 - 0000 January 31, 2017 present Line of Succession The line of succession regarding who would act as Secretary of Transportation in the event of a vacancy or incapacitation is as follows : Deputy Secretary of Transportation Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy General Counsel Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Assistant Secretary for Administration Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration Administrator of the Maritime Administration Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Regional Administrator, Southern Region, Federal Aviation Administration Director, Resource Center, Lakewood, Colorado, Federal Highway Administration Regional Administrator, Northwest Mountain Region, Federal Aviation Administration Living former Secretaries of Transportation See also : List of living former members of the United States Cabinet As of March 2018, there are twelve living, former Secretaries of Transportation, the oldest being Alan S. Boyd ( served 1967 -- 1969, born 1922 ). The most recent Secretary of Transportation to die was William T. Coleman, Jr. ( served 1975 - 1977, born 1920 ) on March 31, 2017. The most recently serving Secretary of Transportation to die was Andrew L. Lewis ( served 1981 - 1983, born 1931 ), who died on February 10, 2016. Name Term Date of birth ( and age ) Alan S. Boyd 1967 -- 1969 ( 1922 - 07 - 20 ) July 20, 1922 ( age 95 ) Neil Goldschmidt 1979 -- 1981 ( 1940 - 06 - 16 ) June 16, 1940 ( age 77 ) Elizabeth H. Dole 1983 -- 1987 ( 1936 - 07 - 29 ) July 29, 1936 ( age 81 ) James H. Burnley IV 1987 -- 1989 ( 1948 - 07 - 30 ) July 30, 1948 ( age 69 ) Samuel K. Skinner 1989 -- 1991 ( 1938 - 06 - 10 ) June 10, 1938 ( age 79 ) Andrew Card 1992 -- 1993 ( 1947 - 05 - 10 ) May 10, 1947 ( age 70 ) Federico Peña 1993 -- 1997 ( 1947 - 03 - 15 ) March 15, 1947 ( age 70 ) Rodney E. Slater 1997 -- 2001 ( 1955 - 02 - 23 ) February 23, 1955 ( age 63 ) Norman Mineta 2001 -- 2006 ( 1931 - 11 - 12 ) November 12, 1931 ( age 86 ) Mary Peters 2006 -- 2009 ( 1948 - 12 - 04 ) December 4, 1948 ( age 69 ) Ray LaHood 2009 -- 2013 ( 1945 - 12 - 06 ) December 6, 1945 ( age 72 ) Anthony Foxx 2013 -- 2017 ( 1971 - 04 - 30 ) April 30, 1971 ( age 46 ) References General `` Biographical Sketches of the Secretaries of Transportation ''. U.S. Department of Transportation. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2010. Specific Jump up ^ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/19 Jump up ^ `` 3 U.S.C. ''. Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School. External link in title = ( help ) ; Missing or empty url = ( help ) ^ Jump up to : Grinder, R. Dale. `` The United States Department of Transportation : A Brief History ''. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 17, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2010. Jump up ^ `` A Chronology of Dates Significant in the Background, History and Development of the Department of Transportation ''. U.S. Department of Transportation. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Biographical Sketches of the Secretaries of Transportation ''. U.S. Department of Transportation. August 14, 2009. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Ray LaHood -- Secretary of Transportation ''. U.S. Department of Transportation. July 22, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Salary Table No. 2010 -- Ex ''. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved January 3, 2010. `` 5 U.S.C. ''. Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School. External link in title = ( help ) ; Missing or empty url = ( help ) Jump up ^ Obama, Barack ( January 14, 2009 ). `` Executive Order 13485 : Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Transportation ''. NASA Online Directives Information System. Retrieved January 2, 2010. External links Official website The Department of Transportation Act Current U.S. order of precedence ( ceremonial ) Preceded by Ben Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Order of Precedence of the United States as Secretary of Transportation Succeeded by Rick Perry as Secretary of Energy United States Secretaries of Transportation Boyd Volpe Brinegar Coleman Adams Goldschmidt Lewis Dole Burnley Skinner Card Peña Slater Mineta Peters LaHood Foxx Chao Agencies under the United States Department of Transportation Headquarters : 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE ( Transportation Department Building ) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey A. Rosen, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Deputy Secretary of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Federal Highway Administration Federal Railroad Administration Federal Transit Administration Inspector General U.S. Maritime Administration Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Research and Innovative Technology Administration Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Surface Transportation Board Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy Office of Aviation and International Affairs Office of Transportation Policy Leaders of the United States federal executive departments Current Agriculture Commerce Defense Education Energy Health and Human Services Homeland Security Housing and Urban Development Interior Justice Labor State Transportation Treasury Veterans Affairs Past Commerce and Labor Health, Education, and Welfare Navy Post Office War Presidential line of succession in the United States of America Vice President ( Mike Pence ) Speaker of the House of Representatives ( Paul Ryan ) President pro tempore of the Senate ( Orrin Hatch ) Secretary of State ( Rex Tillerson ) Secretary of the Treasury ( Steven Mnuchin ) Secretary of Defense ( Jim Mattis ) Attorney General ( Jeff Sessions ) Secretary of the Interior ( Ryan Zinke ) Secretary of Agriculture ( Sonny Perdue ) Secretary of Commerce ( Wilbur Ross ) Secretary of Labor ( Alex Acosta ) Secretary of Health and Human Services ( Alex Azar ) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development ( Ben Carson ) Secretary of Transportation ( Elaine Chao ) Secretary of Energy ( Rick Perry ) Secretary of Education ( Betsy DeVos ) Secretary of Veterans Affairs ( David Shulkin ) Secretary of Homeland Security ( Kirstjen Nielsen ) Jump up ^ Although Elaine Chao is the current Secretary of Transportation, she is not a natural - born citizen ( acquired U.S. citizenship by naturalization ) and thus ineligible for the Presidency. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Secretary_of_Transportation&oldid=829019149 '' Categories : Lists of members of the Cabinet of the United States Cabinet of the United States United States Secretaries of Transportation Transport ministers Hidden categories : CS1 errors : external links Pages using web citations with no URL Articles with hCards Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español فارسی Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Русский Simple English Suomi Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 7 more Edit links This page was last edited on 6 March 2018, at 03 : 56. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who is the head of department of transportation
Answer: Elaine Chao