February 22, 1996

GEORGE BLACK SWORN IN AS SAFETY BOARD MEMBER

(Washington, DC) -- George W. Black, Jr., was sworn in this afternoon as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The oath of office was administered by Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall at a ceremony near Atlanta, Georgia.

Black holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia institute of Technology and, during his more than 30 years in transportation, has done significant work in highway safety and investigation.

Since 1988 Black has served as the Director of Transportation for Gwinnett County, GA, a large suburban county outside of Atlanta. In this position he is responsible for the design, right of way acquisition, construction, maintenance and operation of the County's roadway, airport and storm water systems. Prior to becoming Director, Black served as the Director of Engineering for three years. From 1973 to 1985 he was County Traffic Engineer, during which time he founded the County Police Department's Fatal Accident investigation Unit and investigated more than 1,500 vehicular crashes.

In 1975, he and Gwinnett County were honored for their efforts in highway-rail grade crossing safety by the "Operation Lifesaver" program.

Black is a Fellow of the institute of Transportation Engineers, a committee member for the Transportation Research Board, a member of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games' Transportation Support Group, and a technical committee member for the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. In additional, he belongs to the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The NTSB is a five-member board that investigates transportation accidents and makes recommendations to improve safety. The Safety Board is responsible for conducting special studies and investigations on transportation safety, and reviewing and evaluating performance of other agencies in providing a safety transportation environment. Black's term on the NTSB will expire December 31, 1996.

A veteran, Black served in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft maintenance officer. He is married to Karen Marshall Black and has two daughters, Karen Lane Black and Katharine Marie Burlage.

Media Contact: Julie Beal
(202) 314-6100