President Donald Trump has nominated Heidi King to be deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
King comes to NHTSA with experience in public safety, innovation, risk management, evidence-based decision-making and law enforcement. She is an economist and research scientist by training and has worked in both the government and the private sector.
Tiremakers part of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association have long called on Trump to fulfill the NHTSA vacancy with USTMA President and CEO Anne Forristall Luke writing a letter to Trump last September asking him to accelerate his efforts to fill the head position.
“NHTSA’s role in regulating the motor vehicle, tire and motor vehicle equipment industries requires leadership to ensure implementation of smart, efficient regulations required by Congress to ensure a competitive marketplace,” Luke wrote at the time in the letter. “We stand ready to work with your Administration and eventual nominee to advance motorist safety while promoting a competitive and successful U.S. tire manufacturing industry.”
Luke said the USTMA is looking forward to working with King in the future.
“The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association congratulates Heidi King on her nomination as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” she said. “Ms. King’s demonstrated commitment to research, innovation and public safety throughout her career position her well for strong leadership at NHTSA, and the U.S. tire manufacturing industry looks forward to working with her to advance our shared mission of driver safety.”
King has served as a regulatory policy analyst in the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from 1998 to 2000 and from 2007 to 2011. During her years at OMB and two years as Chief Economist on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, she became familiar with NHTSA and the agency’s work on Corporate Average Fuel Economy.
She worked as senior manager of Management Science at Pfizer Inc. from 2002 to 2006, and as Global Director of Environmental Risk at General Electric (GE) from 2013 to 2016.
From her work at Telcordia Technologies, a research and development company, she developed an interest in the areas of cybersecurity and the development of automated driving systems.
