MEMBERS OF BOARD OF INQUIRY - Transit Bus Public Hearing

John A. Hammerschmidt
NTSB Board Member
Hearing Chairman

Vernon S. Ellingstad, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Research and Engineering

Dr. Ellingstad was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wisconsin State University - Eau Claire (Psychology), and a masters and a doctorate in Human Factors Psychology from the University of South Dakota. After a number of research and academic positions, including Chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of South Dakota, Dr. Ellingstad joined the staff of the National Transportation Safety Board in 1990 as Deputy Director of the Office of Research and Engineering. He became Director in January 1996.

Joseph G. Osterman
Director, Office of Highway Safety

Mr. Osterman was awarded a bachelor of sciences degree from the State University of New York (Engineering Technology). He held law enforcement positions with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the City of Philadelphia before joining the National Transportation Safety Board as a highway accident investigator in 1986. He assumed the leadership of the Board’s highway accident investigations in 1994.

Jeanmarie Poole
Senior Highway Accident Investigator

Mrs. Poole was a Maryland State Trooper for 7 years before joining the staff of the National Transportation Safety Board in 1982 as a highway investigator. During that time she has investigated catastrophic accidents involving tractor-semitrailers, intercity and school buses, and bridge collapses. She was the Investigator-in-Charge of the 1988 Carrollton, Kentucky activity bus collision with another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of 27 children and adults. This is still the deadliest drunk driving accident in U.S. history.