Obama Nominates NHTSA Administrator

President Barack Obama has nominated Mark Rosekind, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) since June 2010, to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

If confirmed by the Senate, Rosekind will become NHTSA’s administrator, a position that has been vacant since David Strickland resigned from the post in December 2013. In the interim, NHTSA Deputy Administrator David J. Friedman has managed the agency.

Rosekind is recognized as a leading expert and researcher on the subjects of fatigue and drowsy driving.

Both NTSB and NHTSA are agencies within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Since joining NTSB, Rosekind has served as the on-site board member for several major accident investigations.

NHTSA has come under increased scrutiny in the past year, with critics questioning the agency’s regulatory decisions related to the Takata air bag recalls and General Motors ignition switch recalls.

For more on Rosekind's background, click here.