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On Thursday, President Obama sent his nomination of Deborah Hersman as National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman to the Senate for confirmation. She would succeed NTSB member Mark Rosenker, whose term as chairman has expired.

An NTSB member since June 2004, Hersman previously was a senior professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where she was responsible for the legislative agenda and policy initiatives affecting surface transportation, including railroads, trucks, buses, pipelines and hazardous materials. Hersman also previously served as staff director and senior legislative aide to former Rep. Bob Wise (D-W.Va.).

An independent federal agency, the NTSB investigates railroad, aviation, highway, marine and pipeline accidents, and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing transportation accidents.