21 Facts About Anthony Foxx

Anthony Renard Foxx was born on April 30,1971 and is an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of Transportation from 2013 to 2017.

Anthony Foxx was nominated to the position of Secretary of Transportation by President Barack Obama in April 2013.

Anthony Foxx left his role as chief policy officer in October 2021, but continued to serve as an advisor to the company.

Anthony Foxx was born on April 30,1971, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Anthony Foxx was raised by his mother, Laura Foxx, and his grandparents, James and Mary Foxx, pursued education at Piedmont Open IB Middle School, and graduated from West Charlotte High School.

Anthony Foxx graduated from Davidson College, where he was the first African American student body president, in 1993.

Anthony Foxx majored in history, and went on to earn a JD from New York University School of Law in 1996.

Anthony Foxx was first elected to the Charlotte City Council in 2005 to an at-large seat, and was re-elected in 2007.

Anthony Foxx won election as Charlotte's 54th and youngest mayor in 2009 and was re-elected in 2011; he became the city's first Democratic mayor since Harvey Gantt left office in 1987.

Anthony Foxx reformed the city's public safety pay plan and developed a demand-driven approach to workforce development that has become a national model.

Anthony Foxx announced the creation of more than 4,000 new jobs.

Anthony Foxx hosted a series of town hall meetings with unemployed workers, pushed for changes to the city's small business loan program, and pressed White House officials for economic recovery spending measures.

From a transportation perspective, Anthony Foxx helped salvage the city's largest single capital project: The Blue Line Extension, which was threatened by lower than anticipated sales tax revenue.

Anthony Foxx prepared and advocated for the Obama Administration's first surface transportation bill, the Grow America Act, in 2014, and worked to get its congressional incarnation, the FAST Act, passed.

Anthony Foxx consolidated the Department's financing programs and accelerated permitting policies.

Anthony Foxx put forth new rules governing the commercial use of drones, blueprinted a comprehensive national policy on autonomous vehicles, and launched the Department's first Smart City Challenge, engaging more than 70 cities to develop their own strategies to incorporate new technologies into their transportation networks.

Anthony Foxx was the designated survivor for the 2015 State of the Union Address on January 20,2015.

Anthony Foxx joined Lyft in October 2018 as the company's chief policy officer.

Anthony Foxx stepped down from the chief policy officer role in October 2021, but he remained with Lyft as a senior advisor.

In 2022, it was reported that Anthony Foxx was under consideration to lead the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Anthony Foxx is married to Samara Ryder, who is an attorney.