U.S. Chemical Safety and
Hazardous Investigation Board
Dr. Katherine A. Lemos
Chairman and CEO
Katherine A. Lemos, Ph.D. was nominated by President Donald Trump in June 2019 and confirmed by the Senate in March 2020.
Prior to her confirmation as Chairman and CEO of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Dr. Lemos served as Director for Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Aerospace Sector, driving performance improvements across the product lifecycle with a focus on engagement early in the value stream.
As an expert in accident investigation, human decision-making and safety management, she is known for her innovative and strategic approaches leveraging advances in analytics and autonomy. She has a documented record of turning new technologies into solutions trusted by operators, overseers, and the public they serve.
Before joining Northrop Grumman in 2014, Dr. Lemos worked at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a technical leader and program manager in Aircraft Certification and Aviation Safety. Prior to this she worked for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as a Senior Human Performance Investigator in Aviation Safety, and then as Special Assistant to Vice Chairman of the Board.
In academia Dr. Lemos focused her research on decision-making, studying the influence of information and technology on beliefs and behaviors to more reliably yield safe outcomes during risky and uncertain conditions. In aviation, Dr. Lemos conducted applied research to balance the strengths of technology and humans for optimal performance. Dr. Lemos earned a B.B.A. from Belmont University, a M.S. from California Lutheran University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.
Throughout her career, Dr. Lemos has focused on improving safety and efficiency at the level of the individual and the organization. She has contributed individually as a researcher, professor and technical expert, and also contributed as a leader in managing programs and initiatives, bringing consensus and order to efforts that result in tangible safety and efficiency outcomes.
