Ray LaHood is UOG commencement speaker

MANGILAO, Guam-Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, will give the commencement address during the University of Guam’s spring commencement ceremonies on May 27, 2012.

Ray LaHood is one of 15 members of President Obama’s Cabinet, which includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments – the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
“We are very pleased to have Secretary LaHood as our commencement speaker,” said University of Guam President Robert A. Underwood. “This is the first time in the history of the institution that we will have a Cabinet level official as commencement speaker. His acceptance of our invitation coincides with our 60th anniversary celebration and brings a new and exciting perspective to our commencement ceremonies.”

LaHood became the 16th Secretary of Transportation on Jan. 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.”

LaHood’s primary goals in implementing President Obama’s priorities for transportation include safety across all modes, restoring economic health and creating jobs, 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.

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. Rep. Robert Michel, whom he succeeded in representing the 18th District, and as District Administrative Assistant to Rep. Thomas Railsback. He also served in the Illinois State Legislature.

Spring 2012 commencement ceremonies will be held May 27 at 2pm in the UOG Field House. (UOG)