Anthony Foxx
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| Anthony Foxx | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Anthony Foxx |
| Caption | Official portrait, 2013 |
| Office | 17th United States Secretary of Transportation |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Term start | July 2, 2013 |
| Term end | January 20, 2017 |
| Predecessor | Ray LaHood |
| Successor | Elaine Chao |
| Office1 | 54th Mayor of Charlotte |
| Term start1 | December 7, 2009 |
| Term end1 | July 1, 2013 |
| Predecessor1 | Pat McCrory |
| Successor1 | Patsy Kinsey |
| Birth date | 30 April 1971 |
| Birth place | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Samara Ryder |
| Alma mater | Davidson College (BA), New York University School of Law (JD) |
Anthony Foxx is an American attorney and politician who served as the 17th United States Secretary of Transportation under President Barack Obama. He previously served as the 54th Mayor of Charlotte, becoming the city's second African-American mayor and its youngest in decades. His tenure in public service has been marked by a focus on infrastructure investment, economic development, and transportation innovation.
Early life and education
Anthony Foxx was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, primarily by his grandmother after his parents separated. He attended West Charlotte High School, a historically significant school during the era of desegregation busing in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district. Foxx earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Davidson College, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and served as student body president. He subsequently received his Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law, where he was an articles editor for the New York University Law Review.
Early political career
After law school, Foxx worked as a law clerk for Judge Nathaniel R. Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and later as a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. He returned to Charlotte to practice law at Hunton & Williams and served as a staff member on the United States House Committee on the Judiciary. Foxx was elected to the Charlotte City Council in 2005, representing the at-large district, where he focused on issues of economic opportunity and neighborhood development. In 2009, he was elected Mayor of Charlotte, defeating John Lassiter.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate, Foxx served as the United States Secretary of Transportation from 2013 to 2017. During his tenure, he advocated for the administration's transportation agenda, including the Grow America Act, which proposed a four-year, $302 billion surface transportation reauthorization. He oversaw significant rulemakings, including the Federal Aviation Administration's registration rule for unmanned aerial vehicles and new safety standards for railroad tank cars carrying flammable liquids. Foxx also led the department's response to crises such as the 2015 Philadelphia train derailment and championed the development of smart city challenges and the integration of new technologies like autonomous vehicles.
Post-government career
Following his government service, Foxx joined Lyft as its Chief Policy Officer and Senior Advisor, focusing on transportation policy and partnerships. He later became the Chief Policy Officer at StreetLight Data, a mobility analytics company. In the private sector, he has also served on corporate boards, including for Zipline International. Foxx returned to legal practice as a partner at the law firm Hogan Lovells, co-leading its transportation practice. He has remained active in public discourse, frequently writing and speaking on infrastructure, equity in transportation, and the future of mobility.
Personal life
Anthony Foxx is married to Samara Ryder, a former CBS News producer, and they have two children. He is a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Charlotte. Foxx has been open about the influence of his family, particularly his grandmother, who worked as a domestic worker, on his commitment to public service and equity. An avid runner, he has completed several marathons.
Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:United States Secretaries of Transportation Category:Mayors of Charlotte, North Carolina Category:Davidson College alumni Category:New York University School of Law alumni Category:American city council members Category:Members of the Democratic Party (United States)