Blair Anderson was sworn in as the Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on August 23, 2015. As a passionate safety advocate and earnest financial steward, he is honored by the opportunity to support NHTSA’s core safety mission of saving lives, preventing injuries and reducing crashes.

Before becoming NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator, Anderson served as the acting chief financial officer and assistant secretary for budget and programs at the U.S. Department of Transportation. In this role, Anderson was responsible for the Department’s $70 billion budget and the financial management of all the Department’s programs. He oversaw the execution of the Department’s loan portfolio, which grew to more than $21 billion during his tenure at the CFO’s office. As acting CFO, he was a member of the Department’s senior management team, advising the Secretary of Transportation on budget, policy, and management issues. Anderson was particularly respected for his key role as a liaison to Congress and his ability to work with the Appropriations Committee to secure resources in support of the Secretary’s priorities.

Prior to joining the Department in April 2013, Anderson spent eight years as an advisor for Congressman John W. Olver, primarily overseeing his work as chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Notable achievements during this time included providing $10.5 billion for the High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail grant program and the creation of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. Anderson also served as Congressman Olver’s legislative director from 2007-2009.

Anderson is originally from Laguna Beach, California, and obtained his bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University. The father of two young boys, he and his wife have become proudly proficient in the use of all the required types of car seats and booster seats.