Obama to nominate Hart for NTSB chairman

President Barack Obama has nominated Christopher Hart as the next chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Hart is currently a Member of the NTSB where he has served since 2009. He is also Vice Chairman of the NTSB, a position he held since October 2013 and previously from 2009 to 2013.

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Prior to joining the NTSB, Hart was the Deputy Director for Air Traffic Safety Oversight at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from 2005 to 2009 and was the Assistant Administrator for System Safety at the FAA from 1995 to 2005.

From 1994 to 1995, Hart was Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He was a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board from 1990 to 1993. 

Hart, who has received degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, is a licensed pilot with commercial, multi-engine, and instrument ratings.

If confirmed by the Senate, he would succeed Deborah Hersman, who stepped down in April to become CEO of the National Safety Council.