David E. Short served as a senior official at the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2018 through 2021. Initially appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, he quickly rose to fill the role of Assistant Secretary, and ultimately was designated as Under Secretary for Policy, the third most senior position in this Department. In this role, he had responsibility for implementing economic and competition policy as it affects the aviation and international transportation sectors. He served as the Designated Federal Official responsible for the National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure, and the Department’s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking.

Before joining the Administration, Mr. Short served as Senior Counsel, Trade & International Affairs, for FedEx Express, based in Washington, D.C. His responsibilities there focused on building and enhancing the company’s relationships with the governments of the more than 220 countries and territories around the world served by FedEx, as well as various legal and regulatory matters affecting the company’s fleet of close to 700 aircraft. During his career with FedEx, Mr. Short was appointed to serve on the U.S. – Iraq Business Dialogue, and on the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) which produced the new “Rotterdam Rules” maritime liability treaty. While at FedEx, Mr. Short served as Chairman of the U.S. – Colombia Business Partnership, and on the Boards of the Executive Council on Diplomacy and the Business Council for International Understanding.