Regulations and Government
Obama moves to fill agency positions
Deborah Hersman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board since June 2004, was nominated by President Obama last month to become the 12th chair

Deborah Hersman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board since June 2004, was nominated by President Obama last month to become the 12th chairman of the board. If confirmed, she will take over the position from vice chair Mark Rosenker, who has been serving as acting chairman since last August, when his two-year term as chairman expired.

Hersman has been the member on scene at 15 major transportation accidents, seven involving aircraft, including the February 2005 crash of a Challenger
600 at Teterboro, N.J., and the September 2008 crash of a Learjet 60 in Columbia, S.C. After the nomination was announced, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen noted that Hersman has a good understanding of business aviation. “Debbie has always
had an open door to NBAA and its members, and we have effectively partnered with her on a number of initiatives to enhance safety,” he said. Her nomination as NTSB chair is subject to approval by the Senate.