NTSB Chair Homendy appoints leadership team

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy earlier this week named her top leadership team, including Dana Schulze as managing director.

Schulze will assist the chair with day-to-day operations of the agency, which has 400 employees and a budget of $118 million. Previously, she was director of the Office of Aviation Safety, where she began her NTSB career as an aircraft system safety engineer and worked on major domestic and international airline accident investigations.

Homendy appointed Dolline Hatchett to principal deputy managing director for management and operations. Hatchett is the former director of the NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications, where she led a multidisciplinary team responsible for shaping and promoting how the agency responds to and coordinates with Congress, the media and the public.

Also named to the team is Erik Strickland, who will serve as executive officer and advise Homendy on policies, programs and operations. He has more than 20 years of transportation safety experience.

Rounding out the team are Tim LeBaron as head of aviation safety and Joe Sedor as chief technical adviser for space and advanced aerospace transportation investigations.

"These tested leaders bring a wealth of talent and energy to our small but vital agency," Homendy said in a press release. "While they come from different backgrounds and areas of expertise, all are committed to upholding the values of the NTSB today and working to ensure we are ready to meet the safety challenges of tomorrow."