Nomination of James E. Burnett, Jr., To Be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board

The President today announced his intention to nominate James E. Burnett, Jr., to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. This is a reappointment.

The President also today designated Mr. Burnett as Vice Chairman of the Board, which will permit him to continue to act as Chairman pending confirmation of his reappointment.

Mr. Burnett has been serving as a member of the NTSB since December of 1981 and as Chairman since March of 1982. Prior to this, Mr. Burnett was a practicing attorney in Clinton, AR, from 1973 to 1981. He served as special associate justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas in 1981, and was a municipal judge for Clinton, AR, Van Buren County, from 1975 to 1979. He was a juvenile judge, Van Buren County, from 1973 to 1981 and city judge, Damascus, AR, from 1979 to 1981. He was the youngest judge in the State of Arkansas when elected.

Mr. Burnett graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in 1970. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas Law School in 1973. He is a resident of Clinton, AR. He was born September 20, 1947.