Kathryn O'Leary Higgins

Kathryn O'Leary Higgins has more than three decades experience in both public and private sectors. She was the 36th Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) from 2006 to 2009. She served the Clinton Administration as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor from 1997 to 1999 and in the White House as Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Cabinet from 1995 to 1997. She also served as Acting Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts and Vice Chair of the Presidential Commission on U.S. Coast Guard Roles and Missions. In her capacity as Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Cabinet, Kathryn worked closely with the NTSB, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, and Coast Guard on a number of transportation issues. These included formulation and implementation of hazardous materials regulations, increasing inspector staffing, FAA reauthorization and creation of the NTSB Office of Family Assistance. She was awarded Distinguished Service medals by the FAA and Coast Guard for her work. From 1993 to 1995, she served as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Labor. Previously she was Chief of Staff to Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) for seven years and Senior Legislative Associate and Minority Staff Director with the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee for five years. From 1978 to 1981, she was with the Carter Administration's White House Domestic Policy Council as Assistant Director for Employment Policy. She came to Washington, D.C. from Yankton, South Dakota, after earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska. She is now President of the Higgins Company, a Washington, D.C. government relations firm.