People News: STB, NTSB
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
From left to right: Kristen Monaco, Director of the STB Office of Economics; Warren Randolph, Chief Data Officer at the NTSB; and Jen Adler, Director of the NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has appointed an Office of Economics Director, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has hired its first Chief Data Officer and a new Director for its Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications.
At the STB, Kristen Monaco will serve as Director of the Office of Economics, overseeing several analytical functions, including data gathering and reporting, and economic and policy analysis in connection with Board decisions.
Monaco served most recently as Chief Economist and Director of Trade Analysis at the Federal Maritime Commission. Previously, she was an Economist and Associate Commissioner at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as a professor of economics at California State University, Long Beach. Monaco holds a Ph.D. in economics and has experience in several aspects of transportation economics.
“The Board gains an experienced and capable economist and leader with the addition of Dr. Monaco,” said STB Chairman Martin J. Oberman, who, with the Board’s approval, appointed her. “Her impressive background and ability will benefit the public by providing the Board with solid economic analysis of complex issues. Because the Board’s work is often so heavily reliant on economic analysis, I am delighted that we will have the benefit of Dr. Monaco’s experience, leadership, and expertise going forward.”
At NTSB, Warren Randolph will serve as the agency’s first Chief Data Officer, and Jen Adler will head the Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications.
Randolph worked previously for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as Deputy Executive Director of the Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention. Prior to this role, he was Director of the FAA’s Analytical Services Division, where he managed a number of key programs including the Aviation Safety Information Analysis & Sharing effort. Randolph started his career in aviation as an aerodynamicist supporting multiple flight simulation platforms for the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force. He is a private pilot with an airframe and powerplant license. Randolph earned a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University.
Adler brings experience in government affairs, advocacy and communications to her role as Director of the office responsible for NTSB external affairs. She will work with Congress, the media, industry, labor and other stakeholders to push for the implementation of NTSB safety recommendations, according to NTSB.
Adler, a former Senior Vice President with Cassidy & Associates, was Communications Director for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Earlier, she worked for the House Committee on Natural Resources and served in other roles on Capitol Hill. Adler earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in communications from Oregon State University.
“Over the years Warren has worked collaboratively with the NTSB, building relationships and sharing data to advance our agencies’ mutual safety goals,” NTSB Managing Director Dana Schulze said. “He brings to his new role not just a comprehensive knowledge of data governance and data use, but a deep appreciation of the NTSB’s mission and people as well.’’
“Jen has a sophisticated understanding of how the NTSB can best use its limited resources to make progress toward implementing safety recommendations, our most important product,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said. “We know implementing NTSB safety recommendations will save lives, and we owe it to the victims of transportation accidents and crashes to push as hard as we can.”
Randolph reports to Schulze; Adler to Homendy. Schulze and Homendy said data should inform every NTSB decision and noted that the agency recently made extensive use of data in reducing its time-to-hire and in eliminating case backlogs by decreasing the average time to complete an investigation, according to the NTSB.
