Nason Leaves for Position with General Electric

Acting Administrator
David Kelly

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 8, 2008) — With the departure of NHTSA head Nicole Nason this past August, the agency has named the next person to take over the reigns — David Kelly. Officially appointed by President Bush on Sept. 2, Kelly previously held the position of NHTSA’s chief of staff and served as one of Nason’s top advisors.

As chief of staff, Kelly managed the agency’s day-to-day operations, which consists of a staff of 600 employees and an annual budget of $800 million. Before working for NHTSA, Kelly held the position of deputy assistant secretary for government affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as director of the National Safety Council’s Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign.

According to the Detroit News, Nason will moving on to a position in regulatory and government affairs for General Electric’s transportation division towards the end of 2008.