In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Michael Graham and Highway Investigators Michele Beckjord and Meg Sweeney share lessons learned from our school-transportation-related crash investigations and discuss why school buses are the safest form of transportation for students. For more information about NTSB school transportation-related investigations, safety recommendations and presentations, visit the NTSB School Bus … Continue reading Episode 35: School Transportation Safety →

In this episode of the Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast, NTSB Office of Highway Safety Director Rob Molloy, PhD, and Deputy Director Kris Poland, PhD, discuss their journeys to the NTSB and current work. Hear their views on the increase in speed-related crashes, current NTSB highway investigations, new safety recommendations related to vehicle automation, and much more. … Continue reading Episode 34: Highway Safety →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt talks about NTSB’s communications, leadership, and operations during this period especially as it relates to our mission. Chairman Sumwalt also discusses how the agency is maximizing the use of virtual platforms to support its day-to-day operations and shares important transportation safety reminders as the nation … Continue reading Episode 33: Chairman Robert Sumwalt →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Thomas Chapman talks about his journey to the NTSB, his work before joining the Board and what he hopes to accomplish as an NTSB Board member. Member Chapman’s full bio is available here. Get the latest episode on Apple Podcasts , on Google Play, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast platform. And find … Continue reading Episode 32: Member Thomas Chapman →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Michael Graham talks about his journey to the NTSB, his work before joining the Board and what he hopes to accomplish as an NTSB Board member. Member Graham’s full bio is available here.   Get the latest episode on Apple Podcasts , on Google Play, Stitcher, or your … Continue reading Episode 31: Member Michael Graham →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Jennifer Homendy shares highlights from her first year at NTSB and the transportation safety improvements she hopes are accomplished in 2020. Member Homendy was first featured on the podcast shortly after she began her tenure as the 44th Member of the NTSB in Episode 20.   Member Homendy’s … Continue reading Episode 30: Member Jennifer Homendy →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Highway Crash Investigators, Ensar Becic and Mike Fox, talk about the 2018 collision between a vehicle controlled by a developmental automated driving system and a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. We explore the findings and safety recommendations that came out of the investigation, as well as the strengths and limitations … Continue reading Episode 29: Tempe, Arizona, Uber Vehicle and Pedestrian Crash →

This week is National School Bus Safety Week. The theme this year is “My School Bus, The Safest Form of Student Transportation.” School Bus Safety Week is a public education program hosted by the National Association of Pupil Transportation, National School Transportation Association and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, designed … Continue reading Episode 28: School Bus Safety Week →

This week is Rail Safety Week. The theme this year, “Stop Track Tragedies,” provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the need for rail safety education and calls attention to ways to stay safe near highway-rail grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Member Jennifer Homendy and Ruben … Continue reading Episode 27: Rail Safety Week →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Rachel Gunaratnam, a Hazardous Materials Accident Investigator in the NTSB Office or Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations and Frank Zakar, a Senior Metallurgist in the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering, about the natural gas-fueled explosion, on August 10, 2016, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Rachel … Continue reading Episode 26 – Silver Spring, Maryland, Apartment Building Explosion Investigation →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we have a conversation with Adam Gerhardt, an Air Safety Investigator in the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety. Adam shares with us how he got interested in aviation and the journey he took to get to the NTSB. Get the latest episode on Apple Podcasts , on Google Play, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast platform. To … Continue reading Episode 25 – Adam Gerhardt →

This week is Sleep Awareness Week. The theme this year, “Begin with Sleep,” highlights the importance of good sleep health for individuals to best achieve their personal, family, and professional goals. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Mary Pat McKay, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer; Jana Price, PhD, Senior Human Performance Investigator, … Continue reading Episode 24: Sleep Awareness Week →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we have a conversation with Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg. Vice Chairman Landsberg shares with us his passion for safety education and training, his past work to improve aviation safety and the path he has taken to become an NTSB Board Member.   Get the latest episode on Apple Podcasts , … Continue reading Episode 23 – Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Nicholas Worrell, Chief of Safety Advocacy and Chris O’Neil, Chief of Media Relations, in the NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications, about the NTSB Most Wanted List.     To learn more about the NTSB Most Wanted List visit: www.ntsb.gov/mostwanted   Get the latest episode … Continue reading Episode 22 – NTSB 2019-2020 Most Wanted List →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Kenny Bragg and Rafael Marshall, Senior Human Performance Investigators, in the NTSB Office of Highway, about the collision of a pickup truck and medium-size bus, on March 29, 2017, near Concan, Texas. Kenny and Rafael talk about the circumstances of the crash, the probable cause, and … Continue reading Episode 21 – Concan, Texas Investigation →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we have a conversation with Board Member Jennifer Homendy. Member Homendy shares with us her passion for transportation safety, her past work to improve rail, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety and the path she has taken to become an NTSB Board Member.   Get the latest episode on … Continue reading Episode 20 – Member Jennifer Homendy →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Chairman Robert Sumwalt about Thanksgiving holiday travel and ways to keep you and your loved ones safe whether traveling by air, land, or sea. To learn more about the NTSB investigation of the gas explosions and fire in Lawrence, Massachusetts, visit: https://ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/pld18mr003.aspx. Get the latest episode … Continue reading Episode 19 – Chairman Sumwalt →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Mike Hiller, Railroad Accident Investigator, Joe Gordon, Rail Safety Investigator, and Paul Stancil, Hazardous Materials Accident Investigator, in the NTSB Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations, about the derailment of a Union Pacific Railroad ethanol train, on March 10, 2017, near Graettinger, Iowa. To … Continue reading Episode 18 – Graettinger, Iowa Accident Investigation →

It’s been one year since we launched our Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast.  As we reflect on the last year and the 16 episodes we’ve shared with listeners so far, we decided to sit down and talk with our podcast host, Erik Strickland. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Erik Strickland, a transportation safety specialist in the … Continue reading Episode 17 – Erik Strickland →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we chat with Gloria Noguera the Administrative Officer in the NTSB Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations. Gloria shares with us her transportation journey from Colombia, South America, to an FAA control tower in New Jersey, and now at the NTSB. Get the latest episode on Apple Podcasts , on Google Play, Stitcher, or your … Continue reading Episode 16 – Gloria Noguera →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we chat with some of our summer interns—Keely, a junior at Virginia Tech; Lauren, a junior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Tim, a senior at the University of Maryland & Alexander, a junior at the University of Michigan. They’ll share how they discovered opportunities at the NTSB and what they … Continue reading Episode 15 – NTSB Summer Interns →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we have a great chat with the Managing Director of the NTSB, Dennis Jones. Dennis has been with the Agency for a few years and has held different positions from intern to aviation field investigator to supervisor to chief and now the Managing Director. He shares with us his … Continue reading Episode 14- Dennis Jones →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we get to chat with Senior Human Performance Investigator, Dr. Jana Price.  March is Sleep Awareness Month and Dr. Price is an expert in the field of fatigue….so we were lucky to have the chance to chat with her. We all know what sleep is important, but it shouldn’t … Continue reading Episode 13- Jana Price →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we get to chat with Career Development Advisor Leslie McClam. She shares with us how she got started at the Agency and the creative programs she has been involved with to support staff development. We learn that every Agency needs a Leslie! She discusses how lifelong career development is … Continue reading Episode 12- Leslie McClam →

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we have a chat with Rail Investigator Joey Rhine. Joey shares how he got interested in railroads and the journey he took to get to the NTSB. He also discusses a few of the investigations he’s been apart of, including the 2015 BNSF derailment in Heimdal, North Dakota. Get the … Continue reading Episode 11- Joey Rhine →