The National Safety Council (NSC) has appointed Deborah A.P. Hersman, currently chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as the organization’s new president and CEO.

NSC is a 100-year-old organization chartered by Congress to prevent unintentional injury and death. Hersman will be joining NSC at its headquarters in Itasca, Ill.

"Debbie is a recognized leader in safety, with a frontline understanding of the value of protecting human life through thoughtful attention and management of risk," said Jeff Woodbury, chairman of the NSC board of directors. "Her proven leadership and expertise made her the ideal candidate to take the council successfully into its second century."

As chairman of NTSB, Hersman has overseen investigations of more than 20 major transportation accidents on-site; chaired scores of NTSB hearings, forums and events; and testified before Congress regularly.

President George W. Bush first appointed Hersman as a NTSB board member in 2004. President Barack Obama reappointed her to two additional five-year terms in 2009 and 2013. Obama also appointed her chairman in 2009, 2011 and 2013, with unanimous Senate confirmation votes.

Previously, Hersman served as a senior advisor to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation from 1999-2004 and served as staff director and senior legislative aide to former U.S. Rep. Bob Wise (D-W.Va.) from 1992-1999.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead an organization dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries," Hersman said. "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."