New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s withdrawal of his nomination as President-elect Barack Obama’s Commerce Secretary has tongues wagging that Fred Hochberg could emerge as a contender for the position. If selected and confirmed, Hochberg would become the first openly gay cabinet secretary in history.

“Fred Hochberg is an extremely smart and talented public servant, which is why his name repeatedly surfaces in connection with senior posts in the Obama administration,” said Denis Dison, vice president at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. “It’s incredibly important that openly LGBT professionals have a voice at all levels of their government, which is why we’re backing Fred and others like him who want to serve the president and their country.”

Hochberg has more than 25 years of experience in business, government, civil rights and philanthropy. From 1998 through 2000, he served as deputy and then acting administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), an agency elevated to cabinet rank by President Bill Clinton. At the SBA, he directed the delivery of a comprehensive set of financial and business development programs for entrepreneurs, with particular outreach to women and minorities.

He served as dean of Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy from 2003 to 2008 and is currently a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.