Debbie Hersman has been on the scene of 16 major
transportation accidents since she joined the
National Transporation Safety (Courtesy photo)
By Jake Stump
Daily Mail Capitol Reporter
dailymail.com
SPENCER, W.Va. - A Spencer native has been tapped by President Obama to head the National Transportation Safety Board, the agency that investigates civil transportation accidents.
Debbie Hersman awaits only a full Senate vote to confirm her as the new chairwoman of the high-profile agency.
There'll likely be no need for on-the-job training as the 39-year-old already has her feet wet.
Last month, she served as the on-site leader and spokeswoman for the board as it rummaged through the chaos of the Metro rail crash that killed nine and injured 80 people in Washington, D.C.
The Washington Post observed she "has drawn high marks for her performance."
Since President Bush nominated her to the board in 2004, Hersman has been the member on scene at 16 major transportation accidents including the May collision of two passenger trains in Boston and the 2006 New York City plane crash that killed Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates and reports on aviation accidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine accidents, pipeline incidents and railroad accidents.
"Sometimes people think working at accident scenes is hard, but it's not," Hersman said. "We have a job to do.
"The good news is that the safety board always comes up with a solution to the problem. Sometimes it takes longer than others."
Not only is Hersman well versed in transportation safety matters, but she also knows how to operate vehicles - all sorts of vehicles.
The wife and mother of three is certified to drive motorcycles and commercial vehicles, including school buses and large trucks. She is also a certified child passenger safety technician, meaning she can train parents and caregivers how to properly use seat belts and child restraint systems.
Perhaps her flair for vehicles was inherited.
Her father, Walt, was an Air Force brigadier general. He served as a test pilot and fighter pilot. His job took the family all over the world, but Hersman says she always considered West Virginia home.
Hersman's parents were born in Charleston and lived in Spencer.
Throughout her youth, Hersman said she lived in 13 cities and towns and attended four high schools, in England, Germany, Spain and Virginia.
"We spent as much time overseas as the U.S.," she said. "I grew up all around the world. Yet we'd come back to Roane County on summer vacations to see grandparents, aunts and uncles. We always ended up back in West Virginia."
After graduating high school, Hersman attended Virginia Tech and earned bachelor's degrees in political science and international studies in 1992. She then earned a master's degree in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University.
She even excelled on Capitol Hill for many years as an aide to then Congressman Bob Wise and a senior staffer on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Hersman joked about the ongoing rivalry between herself, a Virginia Tech alumna, and other Wise staffers, who were West Virginia University loyalists.
She said she was smart enough not to wear Virginia Tech attire to a game in Morgantown.
Hersman now resides in Virginia near Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., approved her nomination.
Rockefeller said at the committee meeting her nomination was "a true testament to how well President Obama believes she has served in her current position."
On Thursday, Hersman discussed her goals, which include following through with independent and thorough investigations.
Hersman noted one emerging safety issue in the transportation scene: technology.
More and more people these days are using electronic devices while operating vehicles, she acknowledged.
Hersman was on site at the Boston trolley crash in which the operator admitted to sending text messages to his girlfriend at the time of the collision.
"Texting and talking on cell phones is definitely a cognitive distraction," she said. "Unfortunately, we've seen accidents where there have been fatalities.
"One of the most important things for the safety board is figuring out why accidents happen and what can be done to prevent them in the future," she said. "Every day we have investigators who come to work and that's their mission. We have people who love to solve puzzles and figure things out. Whether it's aviation, a pipeline explosion or bridge collapse, we learn from every accident we investigate."
Contact writer Jake Stump at jakestump@dailymail.com or 304-348-4842.
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