Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta dies

Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief

Norman Mineta, a former Congressman, U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush, has died.

He was 90 years old. Mineta was the only Democrat to serve in the Bush cabinet. In addition, he was the first person of East Asian descent to hold a position in the U.S. Cabinet.

While Mineta had several key accomplishments and honors during his career, one of the most significant was the Mineta Transportation Institute, created by Congress in 1991, which is housed within the San Jose University’s Lucas Graduate School of Business. The Institute is a leader in intermodal transportation research in the United States, and is primarily funded by Congress and the state of California.

San Jose State University posted the following obituary for Mineta on their website:

In Memoriam:
Norman Yoshio Mineta

It is with profound sadness that the Mineta Transportation Institute announces the passing today of its namesake, Norman Y. Mineta. He was 90.

Secretary Mineta was a Japanese-American born and raised in San Jose. He rose through the political ranks starting in the 1960s, and became the city’s mayor in 1971, before serving in Congress for 10 terms.

Creating better transportation systems was always central to his core beliefs. He was the only Democrat serving in President George W. Bush’s cabinet, as Secretary of Transportation. He created the Transportation Security Administration after the 9/11 attacks, and steadfastly displayed passion in finding ways to move people through better transportation.

Our Founder, Norm, also succeeded in moving those around him through his passion, persona, and strength of will to make lives better.

MTI is proud to continue his legacy of improving our nation’s transportation systems and educating the transportation workforce of the future. Our collective hearts go out to the Mineta family and their friends in this time of mourning.