Ray LaHood became the 16th Secretary of Transportation on January 23, 2009.
In nominating him, President-elect Obama said, “Few understand our infrastructure challenge better than the outstanding public servant that I’m asking to lead the Department of Transportation.”
Secretary LaHood’s primary goals in implementing President Obama’s priorities for transportation include safety across all modes, restoring economic health and creating jobs, sustainability – shaping the economy of the coming decades by building new transportation infrastructure, and assuring that transportation policies focus on people who use the transportation system and their communities.
As Secretary of Transportation, LaHood leads an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime and surface transportation missions.
Secretary LaHood said he would bring President-elect Obama’s priorities to the Department and see them effectively implemented with a commitment to fairness across regional and party lines and between people who come to the issues with different perspectives. Before becoming Secretary of Transportation, LaHood served for 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 18th District of Illinois (from 1995-2009). During that time he served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and, after that, on the House Appropriations Committee. Prior to his election to the House, he served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Robert Michel, whom he succeeded in representing the 18th District, and as District Administrative Assistant to Congressman Thomas Railsback. He also served in the Illinois State Legislature. Before his career in government, Secretary LaHood was a junior high school teacher, having received his degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. He was also director of the Rock Island County Youth Services Bureau and Chief planner for the Bi-States Metropolitan Planning Commission in Illinois. LaHood and his wife, Kathy, have four children (Darin, Amy, Sam, and Sara) and nine grandchildren.
- Rabih Najib, PhD, PE - Biography
Rabih Najib is the president of the Capital Area Chapter of the Arab American Association of Engineers and Architects. He is also the Transportation Services Regional Manager at Alpha Corporation. Along with his duties as the president of the chapter, Dr. Najib also represents the chapter on the national level as a member of the National Steering Committee; the chairman of the National Career Center; and also co-chairs the National Automation, Manuals, and Processes Committee. He is also a member of several other associations where he serves on the Legislative Committee and Political Action Committee of the American Council of Engineering Companies, ACES, in Maryland.
Dr. Najib obtained his bachelor degree in civil engineering from Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria, and then his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland. He has been with Alpha Corporation since 1995 where he started as a bridge engineer and moved up to lead the department where he became the Transportation Services Regional Manager in 2008. Dr. Najib is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Governor Martin O’Malley appointed Beverley K. Swaim-Staley as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) in September 2009. She is the first woman to serve as Transportation Secretary. In this capacity, Ms. Swaim-Staley oversees five modal administrations with 9,000 employees and a $3.8 billion annual budget. She also serves as Chairman of the Maryland Transportation Authority. With nearly 12 years of experience as Deputy Transportation Secretary and Chief Financial Officer for MDOT, Secretary Swaim-Staley has the deep knowledge of transportation, along with the management and financial expertise that are necessary to make progress in these challenging economic times.
Secretary Swaim-Staley served as Deputy Secretary and the Chief Operating Officer of MDOT following her appointment in 2007. With this appointment she returned to the position that she held from 1999 through 2003. During this period, from 2001-2002, she also served as Executive Director of the Maryland Aviation Administration on an interim basis, a period which encompassed the terrorist strike on 9/11 and the subsequent revolution in airport security.
Secretary Swaim-Staley’s extensive background in public service includes a six year tour of duty as MDOT’s Chief Financial Officer. Earlier in her career she was a financial analyst for the Maryland General Assembly. Secretary Swaim-Staley received her Bachelors in Political Science and her Masters in Contemporary Government from Hood College in Frederick.
Secretary Swaim-Staley serves on the Board of Directors for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). She also serves on a number of AASHTO committees, including: the Climate Change Steering Committee and the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group. She also is a member of the Board of Directors for the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO).
Hazami Barmada is a young and visionary Public and Cultural Diplomacy professional, focusing on international collaborative development and intercultural relations, namely with the Arab/Muslim global communities. She works with numerous public and private organizations/institutions providing technical assistance on organizational management, strategy and programming. Hazami is a Program Advisor for the Aspen Institute Global Initiative on Culture and Society, co-Founder and CEO of the Arab Empowerment Initiative, and Founder and Executive Director of the Iraqi Orphan Initiative. Her initiatives and events have received recognition in major media outlets nationally and internationally. She has appeared as a TV guest on a number of media stations including CNN international, BBC, Saudi TV, Alhurra, Al-Jazzerah, ART and VOA.
Hazami is actively engaged in faith-diplomacy, grassroots organizing and community development. She is the founder and President of the American Muslim Interactive Network (AMIN), an apolitical grassroots organization that hosts an array of social, educational, and volunteer initiatives that promote intra/interfaith understanding. Additionally she serves as an advisor and board member of several non-profit organizations including the 9/11 Unity Walk. In 2008, she was named a Muslim Leader of Tomorrow by the American Society for Muslim Advancement.
Hazami was born in Manchester England to Syrian-Palestinian parents. She has a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Rhodes College and is currently completing her Masters in Public and Social Policy at Georgetown University. She is fluent in both Arabic and English.
Deputy Secretary Dominick E. Murray has a strong background in economic development, performance-based instruction, and commercial and technical sales. Prior to his current role, Dominick led the regional development team and served as primary liaison to local economic development and businesses.
Before joining the Agency, Dominick served as the Economic Development Officer for the City of Baltimore. He was responsible for streamlining the development and permitting process, facilitating inter-agency development issues and acting as a business-community ombudsman.
Prior to public service, Dominick held senior sales and marketing positions for CBS Radio, G1440, ARIS, GE Capital IT Solutions, O/E Mid-Atlantic and Westinghouse.
Dominick received his BA in Radio and Television Communications from the University of Detroit. He has served on several boards including the Greater Baltimore Committee's Technology Council, Johns Hopkins Diabetes Center and UMBC's Cooperative Education Office.