(The Department of Transportation issued the following news release on March 20.)
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced the selection of Jo Strang as the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Associate Administrator for Safety. Ms. Strang has served as the FRA Acting Associate Administrator for Safety since October 30, 2005.
She will be primarily responsible for the FRA inspector force that identifies safety problems on the nation’s railroads, enforces federal rail safety laws and regulations, and investigates train accidents. She also will play a key role in rail safety research, the development of new regulations, and will report to FRA Administrator Joseph H. Boardman.
“Railroads are moving record levels of freight in our growing economy and it is critical that they do it safely,” said Mineta. “Jo has the knowledge and experience needed to expertly manage the federal rail safety program,” he continued.
“Jo is an effective leader committed to improving all aspects of rail safety,” Boardman said. “Her many talents will help the FRA accomplish its rail safety mission.”
She previously served as FRA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Railroad Development, Acting Head of the Office of Research and Development, and Deputy Regional Administrator based in Chicago. In addition, she was an Associate Director for the National Transportation Safety Board’s Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials, where she was responsible for railroad and transit accident investigations.
Ms. Strang received a Master of Science degree in economics from Marquette University and a Bachelor’s Degree in economics and geology from the University of Cincinnati. She was selected for the position by the Department of Transportation’s Executive Resources Review Committee. She currently resides in Washington D.C. with her husband Shobhik Chaudhuri.