Senate Confirms New CSB Chairperson Katherine Lemos

The U.S. Senate confirmed by unanimous consent Katherine Lemos, PhD, as the new chairperson and board member of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Lemos has worked for Northrop Grumman since 2014, and she currently serves as a director of programs for the corporation’s aerospace sector. She previously worked for the Federal Aviation Administration and on the National Transportation Safety Board. “Dr. Lemos brings years of safety expertise and leadership to her new position,” said Kristen Kulinowski, PhD, CSB board member and interim executive authority, in a . “[She] has a distinguished background in system safety, accident investigation, human factors, and advanced technology research and integration, and has broad experience across the product lifecycle in analyzing and promoting product, process, and operational performance.” Lemos appeared before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Sept. 11, 2019, for a . In a prepared statement (), she told the committee that, if confirmed, she looked forward to working “to enable and empower the CSB to fulfill its mission to prevent chemical accidents and maintain the trust and confidence of the public we serve.” Lemos’ confirmation brings CSB’s membership up to two people: Lemos and Kulinowski. CSB is supposed to comprise five members who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Board members serve fixed terms of five years, and Kulinowski’s term will soon come to an end. She will continue to serve as CSB’s interim executive and administrative authority until Lemos is sworn in as the agency’s new chairperson.