Mark V. Rosenker took
the oath of office today (Friday) as the 11th Chairman of the
National Transportation Safety Board.
Chairman Rosenker became a Member of the Board in March 2003 and
was designated by President Bush as Vice Chairman of the Board that
April. In March of 2005, Rosenker became Acting Chairman, a
position he has held until today.
Last year, President Bush nominated Rosenker to a new 5-year
term as Member; he was confirmed by the Senate in December for a
term that expires at the end of 2010. The position of Chairman,
which runs for two years, requires separate Presidential nomination
and Senate confirmation.
President Bush nominated Rosenker for the Chairmanship earlier
this year; he was confirmed by the Senate last week.
"I am extremely grateful to President Bush and the Members of
the United States Senate for the confidence they have shown in me,"
Chairman Rosenker said, "and I look forward to leading the NTSB in
carrying out its challenging mission. I'm also committed to
maintaining the Board's position as one of the most effective and
respected agencies in federal government."
Since coming to the
Board, Chairman Rosenker has been the Member on scene for a number
of Safety Board investigations, including the December 2005 crash
of a seaplane in Miami that killed all 20 persons aboard; the
October 2005 capsizing of the passenger vessel Ethan Allen in Lake
George, NY that also took 20 lives; and two derailments involving
Metra commuter trains in Chicago last year.
Before joining the Board in 2003, Rosenker served as Deputy
Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military
Office beginning January 20, 2001. In that capacity, he had
responsibility for policies, personnel and plans that involve
Department of Defense assets in direct support of the
President.
Prior to his White House appointment, Rosenker was Managing
Director of the Washington, DC office for the United Network for
Organ Sharing (UNOS), overseeing the development, implementation
and management of a national public information program dealing
with all facets of organ transplantation in the U.S. Before joining
UNOS, he served
23 years as Vice President, Public Affairs for the Electronic
Industries Alliance.
Chairman Rosenker's interest and experience in transportation
safety dates back more than three decades to his time at a major
national public affairs organization. His clients there included
the American Safety Belt Council, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation,
and the Safety Helmet Council of America. He later served as
Director of Communications for the American Moped/Motorized Bicycle
Association.
Rosenker's professional experience includes service in the
federal government at the Department of Interior, the Federal Trade
Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the
American Battle Monuments Commission. He is a Major General in the
Air Force Reserve.