Who Is Elaine Chao? Age, Husband, Net Worth, Parents, Siblings, Biography, Career, and more, Elaine Chao is a prominent figure in American politics and public service who has served in various high-ranking positions throughout her career. Born on March 26, 1953, in Taipei, Taiwan, Chao is now 71 years old as of 2024. She is the eldest of six daughters of James S.C. Chao and Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, both of whom were from Shanghai, China, and fled to Taiwan after the Communist takeover of mainland China in 1949.
Chao is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and together they have been a political power couple for decades. Chao has a distinguished career in public service, having served as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor under the George W. Bush administration and as the 18th United States Secretary of Transportation in the cabinet of President Donald Trump. Before entering public service, Chao worked as a vice president for syndications at Bank of America Capital Markets Group in San Francisco and as an international banker at Citicorp in New York. She was granted a White House Fellowship during the Reagan Administration.
Biography
Elaine Chao is a Taiwanese-American businesswoman and politician who has served in various high-ranking positions in the US government. She was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 26, 1953, to James S.C. Chao and Ruth Mulan Chu Chao. Her parents were both from Shanghai, China, and had fled to Taiwan after the Communist takeover of mainland China in 1949.
Early Life and Education
Elaine Chao spent her early years in Taipei, where she attended the Taipei American School. In 1961, her family moved to the United States, where she continued her education at Syosset High School in Long Island, New York. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Mount Holyoke College in 1975 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1979.
Parents and Siblings
Elaine Chao’s father, James S.C. Chao, is a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Foremost Group, a shipping and trading company based in New York City. Her mother, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, was a historian and author who wrote several books on Chinese history and culture.
Elaine Chao has five sisters, including May Chao, who is a physician, and Angela Chao, who is the CEO of Foremost Group. Her sister Grace Chao is a professor of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley, and her sister Christine Chao is a businesswoman who has worked in the fashion industry. Her sister Jeannette Chao is a former investment banker who now works in philanthropy.
Professional Career and Achievements
Political Involvement
Elaine Chao has had a long and distinguished career in politics. She was the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a Cabinet position when she was named Secretary of Labor by President George W. Bush in 2001. During her tenure, she focused on improving workplace safety and strengthening retirement security for American workers. She also established the Office of Disability Employment Policy to help disabled individuals find and maintain employment.
Chao was reappointed as Secretary of Labor in 2005, making her the longest-serving Cabinet member in the Bush administration. She continued to advocate for workers’ rights and safety, and worked to improve the nation’s workforce development system.
In 2017, Chao was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of Transportation. In this role, she oversaw the nation’s transportation infrastructure, including highways, airports, and railways. She also worked to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system and promote the development of autonomous vehicles.
Leadership Roles
In addition to her political career, Chao has held a number of leadership positions in the private sector. She served as the Director of the Peace Corps and as President and CEO of the United Way of America. She has also served on the boards of several major corporations, including Wells Fargo, Dole Food Company, and News Corp.
Chao has been recognized for her achievements with numerous awards and honors. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2017 and was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service in 2019. She has also been named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” by Fortune magazine multiple times.
Through her political involvement and leadership roles, Elaine Chao has made significant contributions to the nation’s workforce development, transportation infrastructure, and public service.
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