Federico Peña

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Federico Fabian Peña (born March 15, 1947) was United States Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 1997, during the presidency of Bill Clinton.

Born in Laredo, Texas, Peña earned a B.A. (1969) and a J.D. (1972) from the University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas School of Law. Moving to Colorado, where he became a practicing attorney, Peña was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1979, where he rose to become Minority Leader. In 1983, Peña defeated a 14-year incumbent, William H. McNichols, Jr. to become the first Hispanic Mayor of Denver, a post to which he was re-elected in 1987.

Peña advised Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton on transportation issues during Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign, and Clinton chose Peña to head the United States Department of Transportation. Although he had intended to leave Clinton's cabinet after a single term, Peña also served as Secretary of Energy for one year, from 1997 to 1998.

Upon leaving the Clinton administration, Peña returned to Denver and joined investment firm Vestar Capital Partners in August 1998, as Senior Advisor. On January 18, 2000, Vestar announced that Peña had been promoted to one of the firm's Managing Directors.^[1]

Peña Boulevard, a freeway in Denver connecting Denver International Airport to Interstate 70, is named for him. As mayor of Denver, Peña led the effort to build the airport.

Peña is the father of three children: Nelia, Cristina, and Ryan Peña. The divorce of Federico Peña and his first wife, Ellen Hart Peña, became final on September 10, 2001. Federico Peña married Cindy Velasquez on September 2, 2006. Cindy Velasquez is a former broadcast executive for Channel 7, KMGH-TV, and Channel 9, KUSA-TV, in Denver, Colorado.

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Preceded by William H. McNichols, Jr.	Mayor of Denver 1983–1991	Succeeded by Wellington Webb
Preceded by Andrew Card	United States Secretary of Transportation 1993–1997	Succeeded by Rodney Slater
Preceded by Hazel R. O'Leary	United States Secretary of Energy 1997–1998	Succeeded by Bill Richardson

United States Secretaries of Energy
Schlesinger • Duncan • Edwards • Hodel • Herrington • Watkins • O'Leary • Peña • Richardson • Abraham • Bodman

United States Secretaries of Transportation
Boyd • Volpe • Brinegar • Coleman • Adams • Goldschmidt • Lewis • Dole • Burnley • Skinner • Card • Peña • Slater • Mineta • Peters

Persondata
NAME	Peña, Frederico Fabian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	U.S. Secretary of Transportation, 1993-1997
DATE OF BIRTH	March 15, 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH	Laredo, Texas
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH