Created as an independent federal agency in 1967, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has investigated more than 132,000 accidents and made more than 13,500 safety recommendations. The NTSB is recognized internationally as a preeminent accident investigation organization, employing 400-plus individuals and an annual budget of more than $100 million, and has 5 Board Members.
Deborah Hersman
NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman is recognized as one of the nation's most visionary and passionate safety leaders who advocates for safety across all modes of transportation.. She emphasizes the NTSB's role as "the conscience and the compass of the transportation industry. Hersman has been the Board Member on-scene for more than 20 major transportation accidents, chaired scores of NTSB hearings, forums and events, and regularly testifies before Congress. Her leadership has created a more transparent and accountable organization by significantly increasing the quantity and quality of NTSB information available on the agency's website, holding more public meetings to highlight safety issues, and embracing social media to communicate with stakeholders and citizens. Ms. Hersman was first appointed as a Board Member by President Bush in 2004, reappointed to a second five-year term by President Obama, and appointed Chairman by President Obama in 2009, 2011 and 2013 with unanimous Senate confirmation votes. Previously, Ms. Hersman was a senior advisor to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation from 1999-2004 and served as Staff Director and Senior Legislative Aide to West Virginia Congressman Bob Wise from 1992-1999. Her efforts contributed to the passage of milestone bills such as the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century, and Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act. She received B.A. degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Virginia Tech, and an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She holds a commercial driver's license (with passenger, school bus, and air brake endorsements) as well as a motorcycle endorsement.
Robert L. Sumwalt
Robert Sumwalt was sworn in as the 37th Member of the National Transportation Safety Board in August 2006, whereupon President George W. Bush designated him as Vice Chairman of the Board for a two-year term. In November 2011, President Barack Obama reappointed Member Sumwalt to an additional five year term. His term of office as a Board Member will run until December 31, 2016. Prior to coming to the Board, Mr. Sumwalt was Manager of Aviation for SCANA, a Fortune 500 energy-based company. Mr. Sumwalt was an active pilot for 32 years, including 24 years as an airline pilot with Piedmont Airlines and then US Airways. He logged over 14,000 flight hours and earned type ratings in five aircraft. Mr. Sumwalt worked on special assignment to the US Airways Flight Safety Department from 1997 to 2004, where he was involved in the development of numerous airline safety programs, and he served on the US Airways Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Monitoring Team. Mr. Sumwalt served as an air safety representative for Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for 17 years and he chaired ALPA's Human Factors and Training Group. He was a co-founder of that organization's Critical Incident Response Program, which provides guidance to airline personnel involved in traumatic events such as accidents. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Sumwalt conducted aviation safety research as a consultant to NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System, studying various issues including flight crew performance. Mr. Sumwalt co-authored a book on aircraft accidents and he wrote chapters pertaining to aircraft accident investigation in two books. He has written extensively on aviation safety matters, having published over 90 articles and papers in aviation trade publications. In 2003, Mr. Sumwalt joined the faculty of the University of Southern California's Aviation Safety and Security Program, where he was the primary human factors instructor.
Mark R. Rosekind
On June 30, 2010, Mark R. Rosekind, Ph.D., took the oath of office as the 40th Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate for a term that expires December 31, 2014. Dr. Rosekind has served as the Board Member on-scene for five major transportation accidents, including the 2011 Reno National Championship Air Races crash. He has also participated in NTSB public hearings and forums on issues such as substance-impaired driving, general aviation safety, distracted driving, and international safety investigations. He advances the agency's advocacy goals on substance-impaired driving and fire safety. As one of the world's foremost human fatigue experts, Dr. Rosekind has led the field with innovative research and the implementation of programs in diverse settings, including all modes of transportation. He has published more than150 scientific, technical, and industry papers and has given hundreds of presentations to operational, general, and scientific audiences. His achievements have been acknowledged through numerous honors and awards, including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal; the Mark O. Hatfield Award for Public Policy from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; six other NASA Group/Team Awards; two Flight Safety Foundation honors, the Presidential Citation for Outstanding Safety Leadership and the Business Aviation Meritorious Award; and Fellow of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Before his appointment to the Board, Dr. Rosekind founded Alertness Solutions (AS), a pioneering scientific consulting firm that specializes in fatigue management and served the company as its first President and Chief Scientist. Prior to AS, he directed the Fatigue Countermeasures Program at the NASA Ames Research Center and was Chief of the Aviation Operations Branch in the Flight Management and Human Factors Division. He launched his professional career as the Director of the Center for Human Sleep Research at Stanford University's Sleep Disorders and Research Center. Dr. Rosekind earned his A. B. with Honors at Stanford University, his M.S., M.Phil., and Ph.D. at Yale University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Brown University Medical School.
Christopher A. Hart
Christopher Hart was sworn in as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board on August 12, 2009, and designated by the President for a 2-year term as Vice Chairman of the Board on August 18, 2009. In August 2013, President Obama nominated him for a second term as Board Member, and he continues to serve as Vice Chairman. Mr. Hart joined the Board after a long career in transportation safety, including a previous term as a Member of the NTSB. Immediately before returning to the Board, Member Hart was Deputy Director for Air Traffic Safety Oversight at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He was previously the FAA Assistant Administrator for the Office of System Safety. He served as a Member of the NTSB from 1990 to 1993. After leaving the Board, he served as Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, before moving to the FAA in 1995. From 1973 until joining the Board in 1990, Mr. Hart held a series of legal positions, mostly in the private sector. He holds a law degree from Harvard University and Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association. Mr. Hart is a licensed pilot with commercial, multi-engine, and instrument ratings.
Earl F. Weener
Earl F. Weener, Ph.D. took the oath of office as the 41st Member of the National Transportation Safety Board on June 30th, 2010. He was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate for a term that expires December 31, 2015. Dr. Weener has an accomplished career in aviation as an engineering executive, safety advocate, industry safety spokesperson, engineer and pilot. He has given numerous presentations on aviation safety in airline operations, as well as corporate, business and general aviation safety. Most recently, he was a Foundation Fellow for the Flight Safety Foundation, where he led international industry teams to develop means to reduce accidents through coordinated industry programs in areas such as ground operations and runway excursions. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Dr. Weener enjoyed a twenty four year career with the Boeing Company. During his time with Boeing he held a series of Chief Engineer positions, including the Airworthiness, Reliability and Maintainability, and Safety organization, the System Engineering organization, and Safety Technology Development. He also served four years in Washington, D.C., as Boeing's Manager of Engineering and Technical Government Affairs. As well, Dr. Weener was integrally involved in the initial development of the Boeing two-crew 747 flight deck concept and the development of the 757/767 flight decks, the initial advanced technology commercial transport glass cockpit. Aside from his professional career in aviation, Dr. Weener is an experienced commercial licensed general aviation flight instructor and charter pilot, in addition to owning a Beechcraft Bonanza and remaining an active general aviation pilot. Dr. Weener also has extensive marine experience. He obtained his U.S. Coast Guard Master's License in 2000. In addition to navigating the waterways of the Pacific Northwest, he spent four years cruising both the inland waterways and coastline of the U.S., living aboard a specially built steel hull trawler. His travels included the East Coast Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Lakes, the waterways from Chicago to Mobile, Alabama, the West Coast, as well as the inside passage to Alaska. Dr. Weener earned all three of his academic degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan - his bachelor's degree summa cum laude, master's degree and doctorate. Among his awards is a 1994 Laurels Award from Aviation Week and Space Technology, and in 2005 he was awarded the Honeywell Bendix Trophy for Aviation Safety. He has served on the Flight Safety Foundation Board of Governors and on the Foundation's Icarus Committee, and International Advisory Committee. He was also a director of the Northwest Bonanza Society.