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Nicole Nason

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Nicole Nason
26th Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration
In office
May 7, 2019 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyBrandye Hendrickson
Preceded byBrandye Hendrickson (acting)
Succeeded byStephanie Pollack (acting)
Assistant Secretary of State for Administration
In office
December 8, 2017 – March 11, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJoyce Anne Barr
Succeeded byCarrie Cabelka
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
In office
January 2006 – August 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Personal details
Born
Nicole Robilotto

(1970-08-12) August 12, 1970 (age 54)
Bay Shore, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[citation needed]
SpouseDavid Nason
Children3
EducationAmerican University (BA)
Case Western Reserve University (JD)

Nicole Robilotto Nason (born August 12, 1970) is an American government official who served as the 26th Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration from 2019 to 2021. Nason previously served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration.

Early life and education

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Nason was born in Suffolk County, New York. Her father was a motorcycle traffic cop and police chief.[1] She earned an undergraduate degree in political science from American University in 1992, and a law degree from Case Western University in 1995.[2]

Career

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Nason's career in government began when she worked for U.S. Representative Porter Goss, Chairman Henry Hyde, and as Assistant Commissioner for Congressional Affairs for the United States Custom Service.[1]

U.S. Department of Transportation

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Nason began working at the United States Department of Transportation in March 2003 when she was appointed as Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs. [3]

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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In early 2005, Nason was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the youngest administrator of the office's history.[2][4] Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the National Safety Council supported her nomination for this role and she was confirmed unanimously.[1] She remained in that post until August 2008.

During her time at NHTSA, Nason managed an international tire recall,[5] as well as a problematic Consumer Reports car-seat safety investigation.[6][7] She also issued campaigns for stronger penalties against drunk drivers,[8] and new federal vehicle safety testing standards.[9][10] She worked to expand the NHTSA's authority over CAFE for passenger cars based on size.[2]

According to former EPA staff, she impeded their efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles by failing to coordinate with them.[3] She also ordered NHTSA employees not to communicate with the press, diverging from previous policy.[11]

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

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On January 4, 2019, President Trump nominated her to serve as administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.[12] On March 28, 2019, she was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 95–1[13] and was sworn in on May 7, 2019.[14] She left office on January 20, 2021, when Joe Biden was sworn in as president.[15]

In 2020, Nason oversaw efforts by FHA, US Department of Transportation, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan for reducing pedestrian fatalities on roads across the U.S.[16] She also worked with Operation Lifesaver to award road-safety grants in 14 states,[17] and the Federal Railway Administration to require 40 states to create and implement highway-rail grade crossing safety measures.[18]

Also in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of eateries, Nason opted not to fine or punish states that allowed food trucks to operate in rest areas of federally funded Interstate roads.[19]

U.S. Department of State

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Nason was appointed a senior advisor to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in June 2017. In December of that year, she was appointed assistant secretary of state for administration by President Trump.

Boeing

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In April 2022, Nason joined The Boeing Company as the Vice President of Federal Affairs for Aerospace Safety, Commercial Aviation, Sustainability, and Corporate Policy.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Stearns, Matt (February 7, 2006). "Road Safety pick's experience targeted". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A8 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c Price, Deb (July 25, 2006). "New federal traffic safety chief faces daunting to-do list". Detroit News.
  3. ^ a b Joselow, Maxine (April 10, 2019). "POLITICS: New highway chief fought EPA climate rules". E&E News. Environment & Energy Publishing. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  4. ^ Stearns, Matt (February 7, 2006). "Bush Appointment Raises Questions. Nominee's path could get rough". The Kansas City Star – via newspapers.com. and "Nominee: Doubt about resume grows". Newspapers.com. February 7, 2006. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Legal Muddle Stalls Chinese Tire Recall". Car & Driver. June 1, 2007.
  6. ^ "Consumer Reports retracts infant car seat study". NBC News. January 18, 2007.
  7. ^ "Magazine Retracts baby car-seat slam". Newsday. January 19, 2007. p. 40 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Portillo, Ely (August 17, 2006). "An Emphasis on Arrest". The Post-Standard. p. 12 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Grossman, Andrew (July 8, 2008). "Feds launch new crash rating system, add procedures". Autoweek.
  10. ^ "New Child Car Seat Rating System Gauges Ease of Use". Occupational Health & Safety. January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ Jensen, Christopher (August 22, 2007). "What's Off the Record at N.H.T.S.A.? Almost Everything". Wheels Blog. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  12. ^ "Trump Nominates Former NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason to Head FHWA". The Eno Center for Transportation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "Senate Confirms Nicole Nason to Lead Federal Highway Administration".
  14. ^ "Press Release: Nicole R. Nason Sworn in as New Federal Highway Administrator, 5/7/2019". Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  15. ^ "Government Officials at the US Department of Transportation | US Department of Transportation".
  16. ^ Teale, Chris (December 1, 2020). "USDOT pushes swift implementation of first pedestrian safety plan". Smart Cities Drive.
  17. ^ "Grants awarded for highway-rail crossing safety campaigns in 14 states". Global Railway Review. April 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "FRA publishes final rule to develop rail-road grade crossing action plans". Global Railway Review. December 21, 2020.
  19. ^ Few, John (April 4, 2020). "Food trucks now allowed in interstate rest areas to serve commercial truck drivers". The Madison Record.
  20. ^ Evers-Hillstrom, Karl (April 6, 2022). "Lobbying world". The Hill.
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