Portia Wu

Portia Yu-Jung Wu (born July 23, 1970) is an American lawyer serving as the secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor since 2023. She was previously the managing director of public policy at Microsoft from 2018 to 2023 and the U.S. assistant secretary of labor for employment and training from 2014 to 2017.

Early life and education Wu was born on July 23, 1970, in New Haven, Connecticut, to a Taiwanese American family. Her parents, An-Ya Shih Wu and Tom Wu, were doctors who spent most of their careers at the Veterans Administration hospital in Albany, New York. While there, she represented workers in industries undergoing significant changes. Wu worked with hotel housekeepers, garment workers, firefighters, steel mill and factory workers, representing them during times of economic hardship and job loss. Her work at Microsoft also involved immigration policy and broader workforce-related matters.

Wu was appointed acting secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor by Governor Wes Moore on January 18, 2023. She was confirmed March 2, 2023.

Personal life Wu married Brad Peniston on April 21, 2007. As of January 2023, she resided in Chevy Chase, Maryland.