MARION C. BLAKEY SWORN IN AS CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Marion Clifton Blakey was sworn in today as the 9th Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Ms. Blakey has served in a number of positions in government, most recently as Administrator of the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (1992-1993). As the nation’s leading highway safety official, she was charged with reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes.

For the last eight years, she has been the principal of Blakey & Associates, a Washington, D.C. public affairs consulting firm particularly focusing on transportation issues and traffic safety.

Before that, she served in five government departments and agencies, including the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the White House, as well as the Department of Transportation. She has held four previous Presidential appointments, two of which required Senate confirmation.

“I was extremely honored when President Bush nominated me for this position,” Chairman Blakey said today. “I look forward to the challenges ahead as the National Transportation Safety Board continues its decades-long mission of improving the safety of all modes of transportation during this critical time in our nation’s history.”

Ms. Blakey received her bachelor’s degree with honors in international studies from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia. She also attended Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies for graduate work in Middle East Affairs.

Her current term as Chairman ends September 23, 2003. Her term as Member of the Safety Board ends December 31, 2005.

NTSB Press Officer: Ted Lopatkiewicz (202) 314-6100