The first Secretary of Commerce, William C. Redfield, was an iron and steel executive and author of a book, The New Industrial Day. The first Secretary of Commerce and Labor was George B. Cortelyou. Herbert C. Hoover was the longest-serving Secretary of Commerce. A mining engineer who directed projects in Australia and for the Chinese before his public service career, which culminated in his election as President of the United States, he served almost seven and one-half years. The Department of Commerce headquarters building is named after him. 

Both William C. Redfield and Malcolm Baldrige served for more than six years. Eight Secretaries served less than a year. Two Secretaries died while in office: Malcolm Baldrige and Ronald H. Brown.

The following is a listing of former Secretaries of Commerce:

Secretaries of Commerce and the Years They Served

Gina M. Raimondo, March 3, 2021 - January 20, 2025

• Leadership Team
• Secretary Raimondo Speeches

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., February 28, 2017 – January 20, 2021

• Leadership Team
• Secretary Ross Speeches

Penny S. Pritzker, June 26, 2013 – January 20, 2017

• Leadership Team
• Secretary Pritzker Speeches

John E. Bryson
October 21, 2011- June 21, 2012

Gary F. Locke
March 26, 2009 - August 1, 2011

Carlos M. Gutierrez
February 7, 2005 - January 19, 2009

Donald L. Evans
January 20, 2001 - February 3, 2005

Norman Y. Mineta
July 21, 2000 - January 19, 2001

William M. Daley
January 30, 1997 - July 19, 2000

Mickey Kantor
April 12, 1996 - January 21, 1997

Ronald H. Brown
January 22, 1993 - April 3, 1996

Barbara H. Franklin
February 27, 1992 - January 20, 1993

Robert A. Mosbacher
January 31, 1989 - January 15, 1992

C. William Verity
October 19, 1987 - January 30, 1989

Malcolm Baldrige
January 20, 1981 - July 25, 1987

Philip M. Klutznick
January 9, 1980 - January 19, 1981

Juanita M. Kreps
January 23, 1977 - October 31, 1979

Elliot L. Richardson
February 2, 1976 - January 20, 1977

Rogers C. B. Morton
May 1, 1975 - February 2, 1976

Frederick B. Dent
February 2, 1973 - March 26, 1975

Peter G. Peterson
February 29, 1972 - February 1, 1973

Maurice H. Stans
January 21, 1969 - February 15, 1972

C. R. Smith
March 6, 1968 - January 19, 1969

Alexander B. Trowbridge
June 14, 1967 - March 1, 1968

John T. Connor
January 18, 1965 - January 31, 1967

Luther H. Hodges
January 21, 1961 - January 15, 1965

Frederick H. Mueller
August 10, 1959 - January 19, 1961

Lewis L. Strauss (Interim appointee)
November 13, 1958 - June 30, 1959

Sinclair Weeks
January 21, 1953 - November 10, 1958

Charles Sawyer
May 6, 1948 - January 20, 1953

W. Averell Harriman
October 7, 1946 - April 22, 1948

Henry A. Wallace
March 2, 1945 - September 20, 1946

Jesse H. Jones
September 19, 1940 - March 1, 1945

Harry L. Hopkins
December 24, 1938 - September 18, 1940

Daniel C. Roper
March 4, 1933 - December 23, 1938

Roy D. Chapin
August 8, 1932 - March 3, 1933

Robert P. Lamont
March 5, 1929 - August 7, 1932

William F. Whiting
August 22, 1928 - March 4, 1929

Herbert C. Hoover
March 5, 1921 - August 21, 1928

Joshua W. Alexander
December 16, 1919 - March 4, 1921

William C. Redfield
March 5, 1913 - October 31, 1919

Secretaries of Commerce and Labor

Charles Nagel
March 6, 1909 - March 4, 1913

Oscar S. Straus
December 17, 1906 - March 5, 1909

Victor H. Metcalf
July 1, 1904 - December 16, 1906

George B. Cortelyou
February 18, 1903 - June 30, 1904