Will Serve As Vice Chair Of The Board Pending Senate Confirmation

President Obama has nominated Deborah A.P. Hersman to serve a third term as the chair of the NTSB. The appointment came late last week just two days before her term was set to expire.

Hersman has been chair of the board since July 2009.

Her appointment must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, which is currently on its August recess. Bloomberg News reports that in a separate order, Obama appointed Hersman as acting Vice Chairman, a position which does not require Senate confirmation. That order will allow Hersman to continue to lead the board until her appointment is made official by the Senate.

In an e-mailed statement, Hersman said she is "grateful" for the confidence President Obama has in her, and that she looks forward to "working with my fellow board members to make transportation -  across all modes - safer for our citizens."

Christopher Hart, who had been vice chairman under Hersman, was also re-nominated Thursday to remain on the board.

The Hill reports that the appointment as chair is for a two-year term, but she was also tapped to serve another five-year term as a member of the NTSB.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov