James A. Crawford, hailing from the Forest County Potawatomi Community of Wisconsin, officially took the oath this past Friday, assuming the position of Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs within the U.S. Department of Transportation. With this role, Crawford promises to "deliver on President Trump’s and Secretary Duffy’s promises to work with the 574 federally recognized tribes across this great nation," as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. He plans to further enhance tribal sovereignty through the Department’s Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program.
Bringing a vast array of experience from his time within the tribal government, Crawford is no stranger to leadership. His previous titles include Vice-Chairman, Council Member, and he also served as the Secretary before ultimately stepping down from his role as Tribal Chairman to join the USDOT as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs in May 2025.
Under his watch as Tribal Chairman, Crawford oversaw the historic signing of the compact and funding agreement with the DOT. This accord, inked on August 19, 2024, allowed for the Forest County Potawatomi to engage in the USDOT Tribal Self-Governance program, setting a precedent for future tribal and federal cooperation.
Acknowledged for his influence within and beyond the tribal community, Crawford has received notable recognitions. He was listed among Madison365's "Wisconsin’s most Influential Native American Leaders" in 2023 and received a spot in the BizTimes Media's "Wisconsin 275 Most Influential Business Leaders" the following year. He also took on the role of the initial Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation, now known as Potawatomi Ventures.
