Note: News release sent on behalf of the Metrorail Safety Commission.

The Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC) unanimously approved David L. Mayer, Ph.D. as the Chief Executive Officer of the new, independent safety body, effective June 4, 2018.

As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mayer will oversee the management and operations of the MSC, which was created by the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia to serve as the State Safety Oversight Agency for the Metrorail system. His broad experience in safety management includes serving most recently as Chief Safety Officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City and previously serving as Managing Director at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

“Dr. Mayer’s 25 years of transportation safety experience and outstanding leadership skills, coupled with his knowledge of complex federal oversight and regulatory practices, make him the ideal person to lead our new organization as we work to help ensure a safe Metro system for area residents and visitors to our region,” said MSC Chairman Christopher Hart. 

"I appreciate the support expressed by the Metrorail Safety Commission and look forward to the opportunity to work with the Commissioners, Metro, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and our regional partners on this important new initiative,” Dr. Mayer said. “Given my previous work at the NTSB and as a former resident of the Washington region and longtime Metrorail commuter, I am very familiar with Metro and understand the importance of ensuring a safe transit system.”

At the MTA, Dr. Mayer served as the senior safety executive at North America’s largest transportation authority where he leveraged resources of more than 300 safety professionals across multiple agencies and instituted programs to foster an effective safety culture. At the NTSB, he oversaw more than 65 major investigations of high-visibility transportation accidents, including the 2009 Metrorail Red Line train collision near the Fort Totten station.

He has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Human Factors/Experimental Psychology from Rice University as well as a B.A. in Psychology from Centenary College.

Dr. Mayer’s selection is the latest action to bring the MSC another step closer to being certified by the Federal Transit Administration. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has been supporting the jurisdictions and the FTA in establishing the MSC so that it can assume safety oversight of Metro from the FTA.

Please direct all media inquiries regarding the Metrorail Safety Commission to MSC Counsel Chuck Spitulnik: cspitulnik@kaplankirsch.com, (202) 955-5600