Career Timeline of Jennifer Homendy: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Jennifer Homendy built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Jennifer Homendy is the 15th and current chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a position she has held since August 2021. She was appointed as a member of the NTSB in 2018. Prior to her government service, Homendy worked in legislative advocacy for labor unions, including the AFL–CIO and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. As chair of the NTSB, she has been involved in investigations and responses to significant transportation disasters such as the East Palestine train derailment and the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. In this role, she focuses on making recommendations to improve safety across various modes of transportation.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1994: Employment at National Federation of Independent Business

From 1994 to 1996, Jennifer Homendy worked for the National Federation of Independent Business.

1996: Employment at American Iron and Steel Institute

In 1996 and 1997, Jennifer Homendy worked as a government relations manager at the American Iron and Steel Institute.

1997: Legislative Representative for Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO

From 1997 to 1999, Jennifer Homendy was a legislative representative for the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, specializing in motor carrier, rail, hazardous material, and nuclear waste transportation safety.

1997: Continued Employment at American Iron and Steel Institute

In 1997, Jennifer Homendy continued working as a government relations manager at the American Iron and Steel Institute, having started in 1996.

1999: Legislative Representative for International Brotherhood of Teamsters

From 1999 to 2004, Jennifer Homendy was a legislative representative for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing the union on advisory committees to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, including the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations and the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy.

2004: Staff member for United States House Transportation Subcommittee

From 2004 to 2018, Jennifer Homendy was a staff member for the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

2004: End of tenure as Legislative Representative for International Brotherhood of Teamsters

In 2004, Jennifer Homendy concluded her time as a legislative representative for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a role she had held since 1999.

April 11, 2018: Nomination to NTSB by President Trump

On April 11, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Jennifer Homendy to be a member of the NTSB to finish out a term expiring in 2019.

May 16, 2018: Senate Commerce Committee Hearings

On May 16, 2018, the Senate Commerce Committee held hearings on Jennifer Homendy's nomination to the NTSB.

May 22, 2018: Favorable Report to Senate Floor

On May 22, 2018, the Senate Commerce Committee favorably reported Jennifer Homendy's nomination to the Senate floor.

July 24, 2018: Confirmation by the Senate

On July 24, 2018, Jennifer Homendy was confirmed by the entire Senate via voice vote.

August 2018: Appointment to NTSB

In August 2018, Jennifer Homendy became a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

December 14, 2018: Renominated to the NTSB Board

On December 14, 2018, President Trump renominated Jennifer Homendy to the board to serve a full five-year term.

2018: Appointment to National Transportation Safety Board

In 2018, Jennifer Homendy was appointed as the 44th member of the National Transportation Safety Board.

2018: End of tenure as Staff member for United States House Transportation Subcommittee

In 2018, Jennifer Homendy's tenure as a staff member for the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials concluded, a position she had held since 2004.

2018: Membership of National Transportation Safety Board

Jennifer Homendy has been a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) since 2018.

July 24, 2019: Commerce Committee Hearings on Renomination

On July 24, 2019, the Commerce Committee held hearings on Jennifer Homendy's renomination to the NTSB board.

August 9, 2019: Senate Confirmation to a Full Term

On August 9, 2019, the full Senate confirmed Jennifer Homendy to a full five-year term on the NTSB by voice vote.

October 2019: Headed 'go team' for Boeing B-17 crash

In October 2019, Jennifer Homendy headed the "go team" sent in response to the 2019 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crash at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

2019: Investigation of MV Conception sinking

In 2019, Jennifer Homendy investigated the sinking of MV Conception, a dive boat that caught fire and sank off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, California, resulting in 34 fatalities.

2019: Expiry of initial NTSB Term

In 2019, Jennifer Homendy's initial term on the NTSB, to which she was appointed on April 11, 2018, expired.

2020: Briefing on Calabasas helicopter crash

In 2020, Jennifer Homendy briefed the media on the investigation of the 2020 Calabasas helicopter crash, in which basketball star Kobe Bryant was one of the nine people killed.

May 19, 2021: Nomination for NTSB Chair by President Biden

On May 19, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Jennifer Homendy to serve as the chair of the NTSB.

June 24, 2021: Senate Committee Hearings on Nomination

On June 24, 2021, the Senate Commerce Committee held hearings on Jennifer Homendy's nomination to be chair of the NTSB.

August 4, 2021: Committee Favorably Reported Nomination

On August 4, 2021, the Senate Commerce Committee favorably reported Jennifer Homendy's nomination to be chair of the NTSB.

August 9, 2021: Senate Confirmation as Chair

On August 9, 2021, the entire Senate confirmed Jennifer Homendy by voice vote to be the chair of the NTSB.

August 2021: Appointment as NTSB Chair

In August 2021, Jennifer Homendy became the 15th chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). She had been a member of the NTSB since August 2018.

December 2021: US Coast Guard issued interim rules

In December 2021, the United States Coast Guard issued interim rules implementing many of the safety recommendations from the NTSB's investigation report.

2021: Criticism of NHTSA for attributing road deaths to human error

In 2021, Jennifer Homendy criticized the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for attributing most road deaths to human error. She argued that fatalities could be prevented through improvements in road design and auto safety features, in the context of high U.S. road death statistics compared to other OECD countries.

2021: Chair of the NTSB

Jennifer Homendy has been the chair of the NTSB since 2021.

January 2022: Led NTSB investigation of Fern Hollow Bridge collapse

In January 2022, Jennifer Homendy led the NTSB investigation of the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

2022: Investigation of Missouri train derailment

In 2022, Jennifer Homendy investigated the 2022 Missouri train derailment, in which an Amtrak passenger train struck a dump truck near Mendon, Missouri, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

February 3, 2023: East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment

On February 3, 2023, the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment occurred. Jennifer Homendy has sought stronger rail safety regulations, particularly following this event.

2023: Expansion of NTSB Investigative Capacity

During Jennifer Homendy's tenure, in 2023, the NTSB expanded its investigative capacity, hiring 71 new staff members, bringing its workforce to 430 employees and brought down the backlog to zero from 500 cases.

2023: Reiteration of need for safety management system requirement

In 2023, a letter sent by Jennifer Homendy to the Coast Guard Commandant reiterated the need for a safety management system requirement.

2023: Oversight of East Palestine train derailment response

In 2023, as NTSB Chair, Jennifer Homendy oversaw the responses to transportation incidents including the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment.

March 2024: On-scene board member for Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

In March 2024, Jennifer Homendy was the on-scene board member for the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.

May 14, 2024: Senate confirmation for another five-year term

On May 14, 2024, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Jennifer Homendy for another five-year term on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

2024: Oversight of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 investigation

In 2024, Jennifer Homendy oversaw the investigation of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, where an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 experienced uncontrolled decompression. She criticized Boeing for not disclosing the names of the 25 workers involved in the door installation.