Has Been Acting Chair Since Departure Of Deborah Hersman Last Year, Full Senate Must Still Confirm

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has voted to confirm Christopher Hart as the next chairman of the NTSB. Hart has served as acting chair of the panel since the departure of Deborah Hersman last year.

Hart had been nominated by President Obama to become chair last year, but the Senate did not act on the nomination before adjournment. The Senate is now controlled by the Republican Party.

Hart had been Vice Chair of the NTSB since 2009. According to his official bio on the NTSB website, 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 in 2009, Member Hart was Deputy Director for Air Traffic Safety Oversight at the FAA. He was previously the FAA Assistant Administrator for 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.

The full Senate must still confirm Hart as the NTSB Chair. No date for that vote has been set.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.commerce.senate.gov, www.ntsb.gov