The writer-editors in the Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations (RPH) typically focus on writing and editing, but the San Bruno pipeline accident investigation has provided an unique opportunity for cross training. Specifically, Kathleen Curry, who has been a RPH writer-editor for nearly 6 years, is now assisting the highly taxed  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Division in its investigative research.

“Kathleen has been applying some of her transferable skills—identifying, extracting, gathering, and synthesizing important information that is beneficial to the investigation,” said Steve Klejst, Director of RPH.  

Curry is currently researching historical information and gathering investigative related information as part of the San Bruno investigation.   

“I am comfortable with the investigative role or rather the researcher role,” said Curry. “While pursing my Ph.D., I worked at the Disaster Research Center and the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies at the University of Delaware. I was also a research/teaching assistant throughout my time at Delaware and at Arizona State University. Although I will never be a pipeline investigator, I am now familiar with some unrelated duties and flexible enough to fulfill them as needed within RPH.”

During her time as a writer-editor at the Board, Curry has been the editor on about 10 reports that were presented at Board meetings, and she has provided supplemental assistance on about 8 other reports that went before the Board. Recently she worked "on loan" with the Office of Research and Engineering to edit the Airbag Performance in General Aviation Restraints Systems Safety Study that was adopted by the Board last month.