claude stout brinegar (december 16, 1926 – march 13, 2009) was an american politician. he was the third united states secretary of transportation serving from february 2, 1973 to february 1, 1975. brinegar had previously been an oil company executive. brinegar was secretary of transportation during the 1973 oil crisis. in 1980-81, brinegar was on ronald reagan's transition team.