(The NTSB issued the following news release on June 21.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Deborah Hersman was sworn in today as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board.
Before joining the Board, Member Hersman was a senior professional staff member of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for the last 5 years. Prior to that, she served as Staff Director and Senior Legislative Aide to Congressman Bob Wise of West Virginia from 1992 to 1999.
In her Senate position, Member Hersman was responsible for the legislative agenda, oversight and policy initiatives for surface transportation issues, including railroad regulation, safety and passenger issues; truck and bus safety; pipeline safety; and hazardous materials transportation safety. She was also extensively involved with aviation and maritime issues. She also worked on transportation security issues following the attacks of September 11.
She was a key staff member involved in the passage of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, which created a new truck and bus safety administration within the Department of Transportation; the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002; and numerous transportation safety and security measures. She also worked extensively on issues related to Amtrak.
Member Hersman earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and a Master of Science degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
Member Hersman’s term expires December 31, 2008.