J ames Si-Cheng Chao is an American merchant mariner, business leader, and philanthropist who founded the Foremost Group, a New York-based shipping, trading, and finance enterprise. Born in a small farming village in Shanghai, China, he studied navigation and became one of the youngest sea captains of his time. He immigrated to the United States in 1958, starting from humble beginnings before establishing Foremost Maritime Corporation in 1964. The company grew into a globally respected shipping fleet, known for its environmentally friendly and technologically advanced vessels.

Dr. Chao is the patriarch of a prominent Chinese-American family; his eldest daughter is Elaine Chao, the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Throughout his career, he has been a bridge-builder between East and West, recognized for his contributions to the maritime industry and international relations. He is also a dedicated philanthropist, having established the Mulan Education Foundation in honor of his late wife, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, which provides scholarships to students in the U.S. and China. His life story is often cited as a classic example of the American Dream.

Quick Reads:

• Founder and Honorary Chairman of the Foremost Group.
• Immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan in 1958.
• Founded his shipping company in New York in 1964.
• Father of former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
• Philanthropist focused on education through the Mulan Foundation.