Anthony Foxx

Anthony Renard Foxx is an American attorney and public servant who held the office of United States Secretary of Transportation from 2013 to 2017. Prior to his federal appointment, he served as mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was noted for leading the city through a significant economic downturn and initiating several infrastructure projects. After leaving cabinet service, Foxx entered the private sector with Lyft, later joined Harvard Kennedy School faculty, and has continued to influence transportation policy through advisory roles and board leadership.

Early life and career

Anthony Foxx was born on April 30, 1971, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He grew up under the care of his mother, Laura Foxx, and his grandparents, James and Mary Foxx. His formative education took place at Piedmont Open IB Middle School followed by West Charlotte High School, from which he graduated before pursuing higher education at Davidson College. In 1993, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and became the first African American student body president during his time there. After completing his undergraduate studies, Foxx attended New York University School of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctor in 1996.

Following law school, Foxx returned to Charlotte and worked briefly for the firm Smith, Helms, Mullis, and Moore. He then served as a clerk for Judge Nathaniel R. Jones on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. His early legal career expanded with positions at the United States Department of Justice and the House Judiciary Committee. In 2004, he managed the campaign of Representative Mel Watt. By 2001, Foxx had joined Hunton & Williams as a business litigator; he maintained this role while serving on Charlotte’s city council, eventually shifting to part‑time status.

Foxx entered municipal politics in 2005 when he was elected to an at‑large seat on the Charlotte City Council. He secured re‑election in 2007 and, in 2009, won the mayoral election, becoming the city’s youngest mayor and its second African American to hold the position. His tenure as mayor coincided with a severe recession that had already claimed more than 25,000 jobs from Charlotte’s financial services sector. Foxx addressed these challenges by reforming public‑safety compensation structures, implementing workforce development strategies that drew national attention, and advocating for economic stimulus measures at the federal level. He also played a pivotal role in preserving the Blue Line Extension project, which had been threatened by declining sales tax revenue.

Cabinet tenure

On April 29, 2013, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Foxx as Secretary of Transportation. The Senate confirmed the nomination on June 27, 2013, with a unanimous vote; Foxx resigned from the mayor’s office to assume the federal role. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest individual to serve in a cabinet position.

During his four years at the Department of Transportation, Foxx focused on modernizing national transportation infrastructure and integrating emerging technologies. He championed the administration’s first surface‑transportation bill, the Grow America Act, introduced in 2014, and worked toward its congressional counterpart, the FAST Act. His leadership led to a consolidation of the department’s financing programs and an acceleration of permitting processes for large projects.

Foxx also established new regulatory frameworks concerning commercial drone operations and laid out a comprehensive national policy on autonomous vehicles. In addition, he launched the Department’s inaugural Smart City Challenge, engaging more than 70 municipalities in developing strategies to incorporate innovative technologies into their transportation networks. His responsibilities extended beyond policy; he served as the designated survivor for the State of the Union Address in January 2015.

After completing his term in 2017, Foxx transitioned to the private sector. In October 2018, he joined Lyft as chief policy officer, where he advocated for California’s Proposition 22—a measure that preserved independent contractor status for gig workers while introducing a minimum earnings standard and access to certain benefits. He stepped down from this role in October 2021 but remained affiliated with Lyft as a senior advisor.

Legacy

Foxx’s impact on transportation policy is reflected in both his federal initiatives and his continued engagement in public service. His work on the FAST Act contributed to a legislative framework that has guided surface‑transportation funding for subsequent administrations. The Smart City Challenge he launched fostered collaboration between government, industry, and academia, encouraging cities nationwide to adopt data‑driven solutions.

Beyond policy, Foxx has remained active in educational and civic institutions. He currently chairs the Board of Trustees at Davidson College, his alma mater, where he oversees governance and strategic direction. In September 2023, he joined Harvard Kennedy School as the Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership. By January 2024, he was named co‑director of the school’s Center for Public Leadership, a role he will assume in July 2024; on January 1, 2025, he became the center’s director.

Foxx’s personal life includes his marriage to attorney Samara Ryder and their two children. His career trajectory—from local governance to federal leadership, private sector influence, and academic stewardship—illustrates a sustained commitment to advancing transportation systems and public administration.