Norman Mineta was an American politician and businessman, born on November 12, 1931. He served as the United States Secretary of Transportation from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. Mineta was the first Asian American to hold a cabinet position in the U.S. government. Before his role in the cabinet, Mineta was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California's 15th congressional district from 1975 to 1995. He was also the mayor of San Jose, California, and played a significant role in various transportation policies and initiatives throughout his career.