Every day, as new technologies get closer and closer to deployment, it becomes more important for us in the federal government to have access to expert advice from those who are on the front lines of innovation.

That’s why this week I announced the formation of a new Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation (ACAT), which will assemble 15 experts from a variety of fields to help USDOT assess new transportation technologies and their long-term impacts.

^{Secretary Foxx speaks at the announcement of the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy on Sept. 20, 2016.}

Building on the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy we announced last month, the goal of the ACAT is to make sure that USDOT’s policies and regulations consider the development and deployment of advanced technologies in a responsible way – protecting the safety of the traveling public and fostering mobility while avoiding burdensome requirements that could stifle innovation.

It’s especially important to stay on top of emerging technologies – those with the potential to disrupt both markets and regulatory frameworks.

From automation in cars, trucks, public transit, and railroads, to unmanned aircraft and smart freight movement technologies, the question is not if our transportation system will change – dramatically – but when, and how.

To help answer these questions, we’re looking for skilled professionals in diverse areas like robotics, engineering, social research and anthropology, governance, and transportation safety. Overall, the ACAT will include a cross-section of experts in different fields that can complement each other’s knowledge and experience.

You can read the official requirements to join the ACAT here, and then nominate yourself or someone you know by sending the relevant materials to automation@dot.gov. Update: the nomination period closes November 16, 2016.

I look forward to the Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation coming together soon to help address some of the biggest issues in transportation.