About

Robert L. Sumwalt is a nationally recognized leader in transportation safety, with a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in aviation, government service, and public advocacy.

He began his professional journey as an airline pilot, accumulating over 14,000 flight hours and gaining firsthand experience in flight operations, crew resource management, and safety culture. Sumwalt’s time in the cockpit shaped a deep commitment to preventing accidents and improving aviation systems from the inside out.

In 2006, he was appointed to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and in 2017, he became the agency’s Chairman, serving until 2021. Under his leadership, the NTSB conducted hundreds of critical investigations, issued high-impact safety recommendations, and helped shape national policy across aviation, rail, and surface transportation sectors. Known for his clear, compassionate communication during crises and public briefings, Sumwalt became a trusted voice during moments of national importance.

Beyond the NTSB, Sumwalt has been a tireless advocate for proactive safety practices and organizational leadership. He has served on multiple industry committees and continues to speak at international conferences, universities, and corporate forums, sharing insight into high-reliability systems, human factors, and crisis management.

Today, Robert Sumwalt remains at the forefront of transportation safety—as a keynote speaker, policy advisor, and educator. His mission is simple yet vital: to save lives by transforming how we think about safety, leadership, and accountability in complex systems.