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Elaine ChaoChinese-American Republican politician and statesman
Date of Birth: 26.03.1953
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Career before Politics
- Political Career
- Trump Administration
- Personal Life
- Philanthropy
- Legacy
Early Life and Education
Elaine Lan Chao was born on March 26, 1953, in Taipei, Taiwan, to Ruth MuLan Chu Chao and James S.C. Chao. Her parents fled China in 1949 during the Chinese Communist Revolution. In 1961, Chao and her family arrived in the United States on a cargo ship.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Mount Holyoke College in 1975 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1979. During college, she was an active member of the field hockey team, equestrian club, and college newspaper.
Career before Politics
Before entering politics, Chao worked as a corporate finance associate at Bank of America and Citigroup. She also held the position of secretary in her father's shipping company, Foremost Shipping.
In 1986, she became Deputy Administrator of the Maritime Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation. From 1988 to 1989, she served as Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
Political Career
Bush AdministrationIn 1989, President George H. W. Bush appointed Chao as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. From 1991 to 1992, she served as Director of the Peace Corps.
From 1996 to 2001, Chao was a Distinguished Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. She also served as a board member of the Independent Women's Forum.
In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Chao as the 24th Secretary of Labor, making her the first Asian American woman and the first Taiwanese American woman to serve in a U.S. cabinet. During her tenure, she focused on protecting the health, safety, and economic security of American workers.
Trump Administration
In 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Chao as Secretary of Transportation. She was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in on January 31, 2017, becoming the 18th Secretary of Transportation.
Personal Life
In 1993, Chao married Mitch McConnell, the U.S. Senator from Kentucky and Republican Senate Leader. They have three children.
Philanthropy
In 2012, the Chao family donated $40 million to Harvard Business School for scholarships for students of Chinese descent and the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Center for Graduate Business Studies, named after Chao's mother.
Legacy
Elaine Chao is a trailblazing politician and policymaker. Her unwavering commitment to public service and advocacy for economic growth and opportunity have left a lasting mark on the United States.
