Former Charlotte, N.C., mayor Anthony Foxx was sworn in last week as the 17th secretary of transportation. He succeeds former Republican congressman Ray LaHood, who announced in January that he would not remain in President Obama’s Cabinet for a second term.

Foxx, who received unanimous Senate confirmation, spent his first full day meeting DOT employees and holding meetings on issues facing the department, including transportation safety and hurricane and severe weather preparedness.

“Safety will remain our top priority at DOT,” Foxx said in a written message to all employees. “At the same time, I will work to improve the efficiency and performance of our current transportation system while building the infrastructure we need for future generations.”

He added that he is looking forward to bringing his “on the ground” experiences as mayor to the DOT while embracing the tremendous knowledge, skill and ingenuity of its workforce and its many stakeholders.

At a confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee in May, Foxx called the FAA’s NextGen ATC project an exciting opportunity that enjoys broad support but acknowledged the system’s funding challenges.