NASA Ames 2016 Summer Series. Mr. Mineta is the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the former US Secretary of Commerce, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the former Mayor of San Jose. In his presentation, Mr. Mineta shares his experiences with internment by the US government as an American citizen of Japanese descent during World War II. He also discusses his role in shutting down US airspace on September 11, 2001 and his political career.