Christopher Hart tapped to chair National Transportation Safety Board

President Obama nominates Hart to serve a two-year term as chairman of the federal accident investigation agency. Hart, who has spoken about school bus crash investigations at industry events, would succeed Deborah Hart, who resigned in April.

Thomas McMahon・Executive Editor

July 3, 2014

Christopher Hart tapped to chair National Transportation Safety Board — Christopher Hart, who is now acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, discussed school bus crash investigations at last fall's NAPT Summit.

1 min to read

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama last week nominated Christopher Hart for a two-year term as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Hart has held the role of vice chairman of the federal accident investigation agency since 2009, and he has served as acting chairman since April.

Hart is a familiar face to many in the school bus community, having given presentations at industry conferences. Last fall, at the NAPT Summit in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he discussed NTSB's investigations of two similar school bus accidents in 2012 — one in Chesterfield, New Jersey, and the other in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

He is also slated to speak at this year's NAPT Summit in Kansas City, Missouri, in November.

If confirmed by the Senate, Hart would succeed Deborah Hersman, who resigned from the NTSB chairman position in April to become president and CEO of the National Safety Council.

Topics:conferences NAPT NTSB school bus crash Management Safety

More Safety

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.

Safety•June 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Safety•by Elora Haynes•June 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.

Safety•June 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•May 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation

Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.