Secretary Elaine L. Chao is the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. An immigrant who arrived in America at the age of eight speaking no English, Secretary Chao has devoted her professional career to ensuring that others can access opportunity and build better lives for their families. She served as the 24th U. S. Secretary of Labor from 2001-2009, the first Asian-American woman to be appointed to a President's Cabinet in American history. Prior to that, her distinguished career in the public, private and non-profit sectors includes serving as President and CEO of United Way of America, Director of the Peace Corps, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Maritime Administrator, and Deputy Maritime Administrator. She began her public career working in the White House Office of Policy Development, after serving in the private sector as a transportation banker for two major banks. Secretary Chao earned her MBA from the Harvard Business School and an economics degree from Mount Holyoke College. She is a resident of Jefferson County, Kentucky.