Secretary of Transportation Nominee Ray LaHood on Aviation

Looks like President Elect Obama has decided to reach across the aisle but stick within his own state for his nomination for Secretary of Transportation. Former Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL) has been named as Obama’s pick to lead the agency, despite his limited interaction with the world of aviation.

Evan Sparks has a good posting listing LaHood’s record on aviation, and it’s pretty sparse. One interesting thing he mentions is

LaHood is an Arab-American (of Lebanese and Jordanian descent). In 1998, he vociferously opposed the use of profiling in rooting out potential terrorists or hijackers. He insisted that screening systems be entirely non-discriminatory.

Of course, that falls under the realm of the Department of Homeland Security, so it’s not clear that he would have an impact here. Things with Wings has a few anecdotes about the man as well, but again, there’s not much out there.

LaHood is expected to push infrastructure improvements and mass transit options, so that’s encouraging on that front, but it’s unclear what he’ll bring to the table when it comes to the FAA and aviation in general.