The Foundation is honored to have the following individuals serve as members of its National Advisory Board. Their dedication to the Foundation’s mission provides it with invaluable insight and experience as we elevate and support the nation’s military caregivers.
The Honorable Elaine Chao
Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor
Former President and CEO, United Way of America
Elaine Chao, the 24th U. S. Secretary of Labor who served from 2001-2009, is the first American woman of Asian descent to be appointed to a President’s Cabinet in our nation’s history. She is the longest tenured Secretary of Labor since World War II, and the only member of President Bush’s original cabinet to have served the entire eight years of his Administration.
An immigrant who arrived in America at the age of eight speaking no English, Secretary Chao’s experience transitioning to a new country has motivated her to dedicate most of her professional life to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to build better lives.
As the first U. S. Secretary of Labor in the 21st century, Elaine L. Chao focused on improving the competitiveness of America’s workforce by restructuring department programs to empower workers and modernizing regulations to respond to the realities of the 21st century workplace. Under her leadership, the U.S. Department of Labor achieved record results in protecting the health, safety, wages, and retirement security of the nation’s workforce.
Secretary Chao’s distinguished career spans the public, private and non-profit sectors. As President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of America, she restored public trust and confidence in one of our nation’s premier charitable institutions after it had been tarnished by financial mismanagement and abuse. As Director of the Peace Corps, she established the first programs in the newly liberated Baltic nations and the independent states of the former Soviet Union. Her government service also includes serving as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, Deputy Maritime Administrator, and White House Fellow. Prior to her government service, she was Vice President of Syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and a banker with Citicorp in New York.
Secretary Chao earned her MBA from the Harvard Business School and an economics degree from Mount Holyoke College. She also attended the 12-college Exchange program at Dartmouth College and Columbia University summer school.
Recognized with innumerable awards for her public and community service, she is the recipient of 34 honorary doctorate degrees from colleges across the globe. A popular speaker, on jobs, economy, and U. S. competitiveness, she is Chair of Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Foundation. She also serves on a number of public and nonprofit boards.
The first Kentuckian named to the President’s cabinet since 1945, Secretary Chao is married to the United States Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
