Secretary Elaine L. Chao is the nation’s 24th Secretary of Labor, and the first Asian Pacific American woman in U.S. history to serve in a president’s Cabinet. She came to America when she was 8 from Taiwan, speaking no English.

As Secretary of Labor, she has remained deeply committed to helping the Asian Pacific American community access opportunity. Under her leadership, the U.S. Department of Labor has appointed the highest number of Asian Pacific Americans to top positions in the federal government.

Previously, Secretary Chao was the president and CEO of the United Way of America and Director of the Peace Corps. She has also served as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation and worked as Vice President of Bank of America and CitiBank.

Secretary Chao received her M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and her undergraduate degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College. She is the recipient of 28 honorary doctorate degrees.

Secretary Chao has never forgotten her roots. She cares deeply about the Asian Pacific American community and has launched many new programs to help Asian Pacific Americans advance and access opportunity in mainstream America. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.