US-Department of Transportation Announces New Federal Committee on Automation

Due to the largest changes in technology that approach the US traffic system, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) created a committee with 25 experts from across the industry to advise the government in transport automation.

The experts include Waymo-CEO John Krafcik, Lyft-president John Zimmer, General Motors-CEO Mary Barra, the mayors of LA and Oklahoma City, as well as experts from universities and government agencies (a full list can be found here).

1. Co-Chair: Mary Barra- General Motors, Chairman and CEO
2. Co-Chair: Eric Garcetti- Mayor of Los Angeles, CA
3. Vice Chair: Dr. J. Chris Gerdes- Stanford University, Professor of Engineering
4. Gloria Boyland- FedEx, Corporate Vice President, Operations & Service Support
5. Robin Chase- Zipcar; Buzzcar; Veniam, Co-founder of Zipcar and Veniam
6. Douglas Chey- Hyperloop One, Senior Vice President of Systems Development
7. Henry Claypool- Community Living Policy Center, Policy Director
8. Mick Cornett- Mayor of Oklahoma City, OK
9. Mary “Missy” Cummings- Duke University, Director, Humans and Autonomy Lab, Pratt School of Engineering
10. Dean Garfield- Information Technology Industry Council, President and CEO
11. Mary Gustanski- Delphi Automotive, Vice President of Engineering & Program Management
12. Debbie Hersman- National Safety Council, President and CEO
13. Rachel Holt- Uber, Regional General Manager, United States and Canada
14. Lisa Jackson- Apple, Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives
15. Tim Kentley-Klay- Zoox, Co-founder and CEO
16. John Krafcik- Waymo, CEO
17. Gerry Murphy- Amazon, Senior Corporate Counsel, Aviation
18. Robert Reich- University of California, Berkeley, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy, Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy
19. Keller Rinaudo- Zipline International, CEO
20. Chris Spear- American Trucking Association (ATA), President and CEO
21. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger- Safety Reliability Methods, Inc., Founder and CEO
22. Bryant Walker Smith- University of South Carolina, Assistant Professor, School of Law and (by courtesy) School of Engineering
23. Jack Weekes- State Farm Insurance, Operations Vice President, Innovation Team
24. Ed Wytkind- President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
25. John Zimmer- Lyft, Co-founder and President

“During my time at the Department, we have fostered some of the most significant technological changes to ever take place in transportation, and we did so while keeping our focus on the safety of the American people,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. ”This new automation committee will work to advance life-saving innovations while boosting our economy and making our transportation network more fair, reliable, and efficient.”

With the expected technological changes that will include automation for cars, buses, trains, planes and drones, the committee is expected to work out best practices, guidelines, and create a direct communication line between the stake holders. The first meeting is scheduled for January 16th.