Heidi King nomination as head of NHTSA gets second nod from Senate committee

Washington — Heidi King’s nomination to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was approved for a second time by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on April 3.

King, NHTSA’s acting administrator since September 2017, was approved by the committee on June 27, but the Senate did not confirm her nomination before the end of 2018.

President Donald Trump re-nominated her for the post April 12, 2018. NHTSA has operated without a permanent head since Mark Rosekind stepped down shortly before Trump’s inauguration.

King was the chief economist for the House Energy and Commerce Committee from 2011 to 2013, and was a regulatory policy analyst in the White House Office of Management and Budget from 1998 to 2000 and 2007 to 2011.

She also has worked in the private sector for Telecordia Technologies, Pfizer Inc. and, most recently, General Electric, where she was global director of environmental health and safety risk from 2013 to 2016. Additionally, King has served as a California park ranger and a volunteer emergency medical technician.

King now awaits Senate confirmation. At press time, a vote had not yet been scheduled.