For the British Musician, see Rodney Slater.

Rodney Earl Slater (b. February 23, 1955) was the United States Secretary of Transportation under U. S. President Bill Clinton.

Slater graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1977, and received his law degree from The University of Arkansas in 1980.

Slater became an assistant attorney general for the state of Arkansas in 1980. He was appointed to several state government positions in Arkansas by Bill Clinton, who was then the governor of Arkansas. Slater was also the director of governmental affairs for Arkansas State University during that time.

After Clinton became president, Slater became the first African American Director of the Federal Highway Administration.

In 1997, Slater was appointed to be the Secretary of Transportation.

Slater was able to muster bipartisan support in congress for his projects including:

• The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), making a record $200 billion investment in surface transportation.
• The Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21), which provides a record $46 billion to provide safety and security of the nation's aviation system.
• Negotiation of 40 Open Skies Agreements with other countries.

Currently As of 2005 Slater is an attorney with the firm of Patton Boggs, LLP., where he works on projects related to the transportation infrastructure.