The Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications (SRC) releases information on NTSB investigations, activities, and safety recommendations across multiple communication channels. SRC engages a range of external and internal stakeholders, including:
- safety recommendation recipients;
- members of the transportation industry;
- transportation workers;
- federal, state, and local government officials;
- the media;
- transportation safety advocates; and
- the traveling public, and
- the NTSB workforce.
SRC’s work spans an investigation’s lifecycle, providing the transparency that supports the NTSB’s independence while building public trust and support for our mission. Following an investigation, SRC focuses on advocating for and monitoring safety recommendation implementation. In addition to the five divisions discussed below, SRC also manages the agency’s internal communication and engagement platform, InsideNTSB.
Media Relations Division
The Media Relations Division supports NTSB investigations by providing the public factual, relevant, and contextualized information about the NTSB. The timely release of information in support of this objective builds public trust and confidence in the NTSB and facilitates the transparency and accountability necessary to maintain the NTSB’s independence.
Our media relations officers launch to accident and crash sites as members of NTSB go-teams, providing on-scene communications support to investigators and board members and releasing investigative information to the media and public. They also provide media training to help prepare investigators and leadership for press engagements.
Government and Industry Affairs Division
The Government and Industry Affairs Division (GA) is the NTSB’s primary liaison with Congress, the White House, the Government Accountability Office, other federal agencies, and state and local government. Division staff inform Congress, governors, and state legislatures about NTSB activities, including accident launches, investigations, Board meetings, and recommendations, and manage inquiries from these groups. GA supports interaction with the transportation industry regarding agency initiatives. GA staff work with modal offices, the Safety Recommendations Division, and the Safety Advocacy Division to develop testimony at the state level in support of programs and legislation consistent with safety recommendations and to monitor state legislative activity relevant to our recommendations.
Safety Advocacy Division
The Safety Advocacy Division leads the agency’s advocacy efforts to drive action on NTSB safety recommendations in collaboration with modal offices, safety recommendation specialists, and state and local affairs coordinator. Staff relay NTSB safety messages and lessons learned through print, digital media, and social media communications, including the Safety Compass blog on the NTSB.gov, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and @NTSB X. The division distributes agency products and information to stakeholders and advocacy groups. The division organizes and supports interagency events, such as roundtables and webinars.
Safety Recommendations Division
The Safety Recommendations Division is responsible for managing NTSB Safety Recommendation follow-up, evaluation, implementation, and tracking. The division provides input to modal offices developing new recommendations regarding previously issued recommendations addressing similar topics, and advice on wording of recommendations to ensure effective action by the recipient. The staff track the progress made on the adoption of safety recommendations and ensure that recipients of NTSB Safety Recommendations receive timely evaluations and feedback regarding their responses to safety recommendations. Staff maintain the agency database regarding recommendation adoption and acceptance. Staff follow up on inactive safety recommendations and encourage the US Department of Transportation modal administrations and the US Department of Homeland Security/Coast Guard, as well as other federal agencies, safety organizations, and industry recipients to implement the NTSB’s recommendations.
Digital Services Division
The Digital Services Division supports the NTSB’s internal and external strategic communications goals through ntsb.gov, audiovisual messaging, and graphic design. Staff videographers also provide on-scene support as part of the NTSB Go Team for accident and crash investigations. The division designs and develops a range of audiovisual products that optimize the NTSB’s ability to communicate investigation findings and safety messages. The division also establishes standards for the agency for visual style and branding and advises internal stakeholders on how to optimize visual information to enhance their products.