By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com
August 22, 2008
David Kelly will finish the last year of the Bush Administration as the acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Kelly was chief of staff to Administrator Nicole Nason. Nason had said that she intended to serve until the end of the Bush administration in January.
NHTSA faces several major decisions as the Bush Administration winds down. The agency still must complete new fuel economy standards for the 2011 to the 2015 model years as well as adopt a new vehicle roof strength standard for cars and light trucks.
Kelly worked for the National Safety Council from 1996-2003 as a program manager and Director of the Council's Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign.
Nason never formally announced her resignation from the agency even after her decision became public July 15. Nason, a former lobbyist and Congressional liaison for the Department of Transporation, will reportedly take a new lobbyist position in Washington after her departure.
Nason's appointment was criticized by consumer safety groups as the new NHTSA head would be implementing measures that she had opposed as a lobbyist.
The National Safety Council praised the Kelly appointment. President Janet Froetscher said that Kelly's "passion for saving lives is matched by his commitment to using sound science to formulate public policy."
