Obama nominates Feinberg as next FRA administrator, Dominguez to lead PHMSA

President Barack Obama on Friday nominated Sarah Feinberg as the next administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and Marie Therese Dominguez as the next administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Feinberg has been the FRA's deputy administrator and acting administrator since January. Prior to that role, she was chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2013 to 2014.

"Sarah Feinberg has already proven to be a steady and capable leader at FRA, and especially during the tragic Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia, where she remained on site throughout the initial rescue and recovery efforts," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a press release. "Throughout her time at DOT she has been immersed in issues related to rail safety, including the safe transportation of crude by rail. … FRA will benefit from her ability to cut red tape and get things done."

Her previous government experience also includes service as special assistant to the president and senior adviser to the White House chief of staff, 2008 to 2010; communications director for the House Democratic Caucus and Chairman Rahm Emanuel, 2007 to 2008; national press secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; and national/leadership press secretary for Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, 2003 to 2004.

Feinberg has worked in the private sector, as well. From 2011 to 2013, she was chief policy and crisis communications director at Facebook, and served as director of global communications and business strategy at Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Government from 2010 to 2011.

Dominguez has been principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works in the Department of Defense since 2013. Prior to that position, she was vice president for government relations and public policy for the U.S. Postal Service from 2007 to 2013.

In addition, she served stints at Fieldworks LLC, the Forward Together political action committee, Resource Consultants Inc., Federal Aviation Administration, the White House, and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Foxx praised Dominguez's "extensive management, regulatory and safety experience in the transportation public sector."