The Sun Has Set For Norman Mineta A Trailblazer In the Private And Public Sector

Norman Yoshio Mineta, former secretary of the Department of Transportation from 2001-2006 and a host of other high-profile posts, flies to New Horizons at age 90.

He was the first Asian American to hold the office of U.S. Cabinet secretary and other high-profile positions in the U.S. government. Mr. Mineta was highly respected for his ability to easily navigate the maze of political policies and applying that expertise to the U.S. transportation infrastructure (road, rail, and air). Following the 9/11 attacks, he is credited with bringing his calm leadership to bear, leading the charge to secure the nation, and making the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) what it is today.

He broke several racial barriers as a public servant; mayor of San Jose, CA where he was re-elected 10 times to the California House of Representatives, House Transportation Committee (Chair and Ranking Member), Secretary of Commerce (under President Bill Clinton), and Secretary of Transportation (under President George W. bush).

Mr. Mineta went on to work in the private sector for Lockheed Martin and other entities. During this chapter of his career, he chaired the National Civil Aviation Review Commission which issued several recommendations for relieving traffic congestion and reducing aviation accidents, many of which were adopted by the administration. Besides his Welch Pogue Award for Lifetime Achievement In Aviation, he was also awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Honor, the Japanese Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun, and the Chubb Fellowship at Yale University as a visiting professor.

FMI: http://minetalegacyproject.com/