The Mineta Forum on Transportation Policy & Leadership: Honoring a Legacy of Service

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Ballroom, The National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20045

2:00-7:00 p.m. (ET) | Link to Register

Schedule:

Forum 2:00-4:45 p.m.
Registration starts at 1:00 p.m.

Reception 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Registration Fee:

$75 per person

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, our nation experienced a moment that would forever alter its path. After the Twin Towers were hit, then-Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta called for the grounding of every plane in American airspace—an unprecedented act that, to this day, has reshaped how we understand leadership.

This September 9th, join bipartisan national experts in Washington, D.C. as they honor Secretary Mineta’s legacy, commemorate those lost, and work together to understand challenges and maximize opportunities for the future of American mobility.

This event unites leaders across the aisle, including experts who worked alongside Secretary Mineta, those who have helped transform the ways we move people and goods, and those who continue to collaborate to advance Mineta’s legacy of bipartisan progress for the benefit of the American people.

Connect with us as we reflect on and discuss policy, transportation security, and the industry workforce—and as we collaborate to move mobility and the nation forward together.

The Mineta Forum on Transportation Policy & Leadership Host Committee:

The Honorable Elizabeth Dole, 8th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Senator from North Carolina
The Honorable James H. Burnley IV, 9th U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Samuel K. Skinner, 10th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, White House Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush
The Honorable Andrew Card, 11th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, White House Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, Deputy Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush
The Honorable Federico Peña, 12th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, 14th U.S. Secretary of Energy
The Honorable Rodney Slater, 13th U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Mary Peters, 15th U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Ray LaHood, 16th U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Anthony Foxx, 17th U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Elaine Chao, 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor, 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable John D. Porcari, 10th U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Polly Trottenberg, 13th U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Jane Garvey, 14th Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration

Forum Agenda

Master of Ceremonies

Dr. Karen E. Philbrick, Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute, San José State University (SJSU)

Welcome Remarks

Speakers (in speaking order):

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, SJSU
The Honorable James H. Burnley IV, 9th U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Rodney Slater, 13th U.S. Secretary of Transportation; Trustee, MTI

Keynote Address | A Son of San José: The Legacy of Norman Y. Mineta

Secretary Mineta’s sons share personal reflections on their father and the extraordinary journey that took him from childhood incarceration at Heart Mountain to public service and leadership that forever changed the nation. Through their perspective, this keynote honors Secretary Mineta’s life, values, and enduring legacy.

Speakers (listed alphabetically):

Bob Brantner, Son of Secretary Norman Mineta; Captain, Delta Airlines
David K. Mineta, Son of Secretary Norman Mineta; CEO, Alum Rock Counseling Center

Fireside Chat | In the Room That Day: Leadership on 9/11

Former Mineta senior advisors reunite to share perspectives from the team at the center of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s response to the September 11 attacks. Together, they offer a rare firsthand account of how Secretary Mineta and his team navigated unprecedented decisions in the midst of a national crisis—and the leadership lessons that continue to resonate 25 years later.

Speakers (listed alphabetically):

John Flaherty, Former Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor to Secretary Norman Mineta, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Michelle Poché Flaherty, Former Deputy Chief of Staff and Special Asst. to Secretary Norman Mineta, USDOT; Assistant City Manager, Redwood City
Genie Norris Murphy, Former Senior Advisor to Secretary Norman Mineta, USDOT

The Day the Skies Closed: Frontline Perspectives from 9/11

When U.S. air traffic came to an unprecedented halt on September 11, the effects were immediate for the pilots and flight attendants at the heart of the aviation system. Captain Wendy Morse and Sara Nelson center the experiences of aviation’s frontline workforce, reflecting on the immediate and lasting impact of September 11. Both represented United crews during this defining period and have since risen to national leadership roles in their respective unions.

Speakers (listed alphabetically):

Captain Wendy Morse, First Vice President and National Safety Coordinator, Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA)
Sara Nelson, International President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA, AFL-CIO)

Featured Panel | The Legacy That Moves Us: Transportation Security Across Modes, Across Agencies, & Across the Aisle

Transportation security depends on collaboration that transcends agencies, modes, and political perspectives. Leaders from aviation, transit, maritime, and national security come together to examine how transportation security has evolved in the 25 years since September 11 and how Secretary Mineta’s example of collaborative leadership can inform the challenges ahead.

Speakers (listed alphabetically):

Randy Clarke, General Manager & CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro)
The Honorable Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Steve Morrissey, Trustee, MTI; Vice President, International Regulatory and Policy, United Airlines
Joanna M. Nunan, Vice Admiral, U.S. Maritime Service (Ret.), Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)

Moderator:

The Honorable Nuria I. Fernandez, Former FTA Administrator; President/CEO, AMDC Consulting LLC

Reception Agenda

Welcome Remarks

Dr. Karen E. Philbrick, Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute, SJSU

The Mineta Legacy Initiative

The Mineta Legacy Initiative carries Secretary Mineta’s values and example forward through a new generation of leaders. Attendees are invited to become part of that enduring legacy and help extend its impact for generations to come.

Speakers (listed alphabetically):

Jeff Morales, Co-Chair, Endowment Committee; Trustee, MTI; Managing Principal, InfraStrategies, LLC
Lynda Tran, Co-Chair, Endowment Committee; Trustee, MTI; CEO, Lincoln Room Strategies

Special Reflections

Secretary Mineta’s sons, Mark Brantner and Captain Stuart Mineta, share personal memories and reflections on their father, while longtime transportation leader David Matsuda reflects on Secretary Mineta’s enduring impact on our nation and those who had the opportunity to serve alongside him.

Speakers (listed in speaking order):