The Senate yesterday evening confirmed by voice vote the nomination of Jennifer Homendy to serve as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Homendy succeeds Robert Sumwalt, who had stepped down at the end of June after serving as chairman since 2017 and on the board for 15 years.

In May, the White House announced its intent to nominate Homendy to fill the role. She joined the board in August 2018 and was reconfirmed to a five-year term in 2019.

Homendy has more than 25 years of transportation safety experience, including spending 14 years as the Democratic staff director for the House railroads, pipelines, and hazardous materials subcommittee. She also has held positions with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, and American Iron and Steel Institute. Homendy chairs a board that also includes Bruce Landsberg, Michael Graham, and Tom Chapman.