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Rodney E. SlaterAmerican statesman
Date of Birth: 23.02.1955
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Rodney E. Slater: Trailblazing Public Servant
- Federal Appointments
- Landmark Initiatives
- Negotiation of 40 open skies agreements with foreign countries.
- Nonprofit Involvement
- Specialized Consulting
- Personal Life
Rodney E. Slater: Trailblazing Public Servant
Early Career AscentRodney E. Slater began his public service career as a researcher for the Constitution Revision Study Committee of the Arkansas General Assembly (1979-80). He subsequently held the position of Deputy Attorney General of Arkansas (1980) before being appointed to several positions within the Arkansas state government by then-Governor Bill Clinton. These roles included serving as Assistant to the Governor (1983-87) and on the Arkansas Highway Commission (1987-93). Simultaneously, Slater was Director of Government Relations for Arkansas State University.
Federal Appointments
Upon Clinton's election as President in 1993, Slater became the first African American director of the Federal Highway Administration. In 1997, he was appointed Secretary of Transportation, becoming the second African American to hold that position.
Landmark Initiatives
As Secretary of Transportation, Slater garnered bipartisan Congressional support for several projects, including:
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21): Providing a record $200 billion for surface transportation.
Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21): Allocating a record $46 billion for the safety and security of the nation's aviation system.
Negotiation of 40 open skies agreements with foreign countries.
Private Sector EndeavorsPost-government, Slater joined an investor group led by Stan Kasten that successfully purchased the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team. He is a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm Squire Patton Boggs, heading its transportation practice and working on projects related to transportation infrastructure. Additionally, he is a partner in James Lee Witt Associates, a risk management firm led by former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director James Lee Witt.
Nonprofit Involvement
Slater serves on the board of directors for Africare, a nonprofit providing development assistance to African nations, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem. He has also chaired the Board of Trustees for the United Way. Moreover, Slater is a member of the board of directors for Verizon. He previously served on the board of Northwest Airlines, continuing in that role with Delta Air Lines after their merger in 2008. He was appointed as a non-executive director to the board of WS Atkins on September 9, 2011.
Specialized Consulting
Notable among Slater's consulting roles are his appointments as Special Advisor to Takata Corporation (2014) to assist with its 2013 airbag recall, leading the Safety Advisory Group at Toyota Motor Corporation, and being an Independent Monitor for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Personal Life
Rodney E. Slater is married to Cassandra Wilkins, the daughter of Arkansas state legislators Henry Wilkins III and Josetta Wilkins.
