Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Encyclopedia
The Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is an official of the Federal government of the United States
serving as the chief executive officer
of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
within the Department of Transportation
. He or she is appointed by the President of the United States
and confirmed by the United States Senate
.
The position was created in 2004 as part of the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act. The act also authorized the establishment of a Deputy Administrator and a Chief Safety Officer.
The Administrator advises the Secretary of the Department of Transportation
on all matters falling within PHMSA's jurisdiction. The Administrator directs the agency's national program responsible for protecting against the risks to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce and the transportation of natural gas, gasoline, petroleum, and other hazardous liquids by pipeline. The Administrator is also responsible for directing the development of the broad legislative, budgetary, fiscal, consumer, public affairs, and civil rights programs for the agency.
Krista Edwards served as the Acting Administrator from August 8, 2007 until January 9, 2008.
Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett
, USCG
(Ret.) was sworn in May 31, 2006 as the first permanent administrator. He resigned from his post on August 8, 2007 when he was confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Commander Brigham McCown
, United States Navy
(Ret.) served as the first Acting Administrator and first full-time Deputy Administrator from May 1, 2005 to May 30, 2006.
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
serving as the chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration was created under the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act of 2004. United States president George W. Bush signed the legislation into law on November 30, 2004...
within the Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
. He or she is appointed by the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
The position was created in 2004 as part of the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act. The act also authorized the establishment of a Deputy Administrator and a Chief Safety Officer.
The Administrator advises the Secretary of the Department of Transportation
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
on all matters falling within PHMSA's jurisdiction. The Administrator directs the agency's national program responsible for protecting against the risks to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce and the transportation of natural gas, gasoline, petroleum, and other hazardous liquids by pipeline. The Administrator is also responsible for directing the development of the broad legislative, budgetary, fiscal, consumer, public affairs, and civil rights programs for the agency.
Current office-holders
Cynthia Douglass currently serves as the agency's Chief Safety Officer and Acting Deputy Administrator.Previous office-holders
Carl Johnson served as the agency's Administrator having been confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 9, 2008, until January 20, 2009.Krista Edwards served as the Acting Administrator from August 8, 2007 until January 9, 2008.
Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett
Thomas J. Barrett
Thomas J. Barrett is a former United States Coast Guard officer and is formerly Deputy Secretary of Transportation, holding that position from 2007 until 2009. Previously, he was the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, holding that position from 2002 until 2004...
, USCG
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
(Ret.) was sworn in May 31, 2006 as the first permanent administrator. He resigned from his post on August 8, 2007 when he was confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Commander Brigham McCown
Brigham McCown
Brigham A. McCown is a federal transportation safety expert and lawyer. Until 2007, Mr. McCown served as a Senior Executive at the United States Department of Transportation Headquarters in Washington, DC. Appointed to that position by Transportation Secretary Norman Y...
, United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
(Ret.) served as the first Acting Administrator and first full-time Deputy Administrator from May 1, 2005 to May 30, 2006.