Deborah A.P. Hersman

Deborah A.P. Hersman

Deborah A.P. Hersman is stepping down as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board to become president and CEO of the National Safety Council, the council announced.

Hersman, 43, has served at NTSB for 10 years and was appointed to the top post there by President Obama in 2009. She said in a blog post that her time at the agency has been a “great ride” but she’s moving on to her second “dream job,” according to an AP report.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead an organization dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries,” she said in a statement.

“The National Safety Council vision of ‘making our world safer’ has the potential to improve every workplace, every community and the way we travel every day.”

During Hersman’s tenure, NTSB has been active in promoting truck safety in numerous ways ranging from electronic logs to distracted driving to parking.

The agency does not write rules but investigates accidents and provides advice on Congress on how to improve safety. Its recommendations carry significant weight on Capitol Hill.

“I have had the privilege of working with Debbie at the NTSB for nearly five years and know first-hand how her efforts have improved transportation safety for the traveling public,” said NTSB Vice Chairman Christopher Hart in a statement.

Jeff Woodbury, chairman of the NSC board said in a statement that Herman is “a recognized leader in safety, with a frontline understanding of the value of protecting human life through thoughtful attention and management of risk.”

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