Less than two weeks after swearing in a new member who has a lengthy general aviation safety background, NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt swore in Jennifer Homendy, adding a member who brings substantial expertise in rail and pipeline safety.

Homendy, who officially took her new duties yesterday, joined the Board after Bruce Landsberg became vice chairman and a member of NTSB on August 7. The Senate confirmed both to the NTSB in July. The additions bring the Board to its full complement of five members for the first time since early 2014. It had been operating with three members since January.

“It is my privilege to join this team of professionals who are dedicated to transportation safety, and I look forward to the challenging and rewarding work that awaits me,” Homendy said. Sumwalt praised Homendy’s experience, which includes an extensive background in legislation, hazardous materials, and transportation.

Nominated to fill a vacated term that expires Dec. 31, 2019, Homendy previously was the Democrat staff director of the House railroads, pipelines, and hazardous materials subcommittee, where she led oversight investigations of the Enbridge pipeline spill in Marshall, Michigan, and a multimodal review of the DOT’s drug and alcohol testing program. Before joining the subcommittee in 2004, she served with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, and American Iron and Steel Institute.