About the NHTSA Administrator

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TRAFFIC SAFETY GENERAL: Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge is Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, America’s lead Federal agency for the prevention and control of motor vehicle death and injury. NHTSA’s mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. NHTSA develops, promotes, and implements effective educational, engineering, and enforcement programs directed toward ending preventable tragedies and reducing safety-related economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. Dr. Runge, a native of North Carolina, is an accomplished emergency physician, educator and researcher with a lifelong interest in injury prevention beginning with his work as an Emergency Medical Technician during his college years in 1974. He is a nationally recognized expert in motor vehicle crash injury. Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Dr. Runge practiced and taught emergency medicine in one of America’s busiest trauma centers. Dr. Runge is a board-certified in Emergency Medicine and holds the title of Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served as Assistant Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and Director of the Carolinas Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Dr. Runge has served in leadership positions in numerous local, regional and national organizations, including Speaker of the North Carolina Medical Society and President of the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Runge received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and his undergraduate degree from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Dr. Runge is passionate in his pursuit for safer vehicles, safer roads … a safer America. Dr. Runge and his family reside in Northern Virginia. HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY: Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge is Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, America’s lead Federal agency for the prevention and control of motor vehicle death and injury. NHTSA’s mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. NHTSA develops, promotes, and implements effective educational, engineering, and enforcement programs directed toward ending preventable death and injury and reducing safety-related economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. Dr. Runge, a native North Carolinian, is an emergency physician, educator and researcher with a lifelong interest in injury prevention beginning, with his work as an Emergency Medical Technician during his college years in 1974. He is a nationally recognized expert in motor vehicle crash injury. He has published research over the range of injury prevention, acute care and emergency response. Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Dr. Runge practiced and taught emergency medicine in one of America’s busiest trauma hospitals. Dr. Runge is a board-certified in Emergency Medicine and holds the title of Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served as Assistant Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and Director of the Carolinas Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Dr. Runge has served in leadership positions in numerous local, regional and national organizations, such as the Speaker of the North Carolina Medical Society and President of the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians. Whether serving on governor’s task forces or working for organizations such as Safe Kids, Dr. Runge has demonstrated a commitment to the public health of our communities. Dr. Runge earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977 from The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee and received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Runge is passionate in his pursuit to end preventable injury and death. Dr. Runge and his family reside in Northern Virginia. FORMAL ACADEMIC/MD (400 words): Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge is the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, America’s lead Federal agency for the prevention and control of motor vehicle death and injury. NHTSA’s mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. NHTSA develops, promotes, and implements effective educational, engineering, and enforcement programs directed toward ending preventable tragedies and reducing safety-related economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. President George W. Bush nominated Dr. Runge for his appointment as NHTSA Administrator, which was confirmed by the United States Senate in August 2001. Dr. Runge, a native North Carolinian, is a board-certified emergency physician, educator and researcher with a lifelong interest in injury prevention. He is a nationally recognized expert in motor vehicle crash injury. Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Dr. Runge practiced emergency medicine in one of America’s busiest trauma centers. Dr. Runge holds the title of Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served as Assistant Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Carolinas Medical Center, where he completed his residency training in emergency medicine in 1984. His published research ranges from injury prevention through acute care and emergency response. Dr. Runge received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and his undergraduate degree from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. As Director of the Carolinas Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Dr. Runge spearheaded injury prevention initiatives and programs throughout the state, which include a special interest in alcohol screening and the identification of impaired drivers in emergency departments. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and scientific presentations. Dr. Runge shares his expertise and southern wit in editorials and commentaries seen in leading medical and scientific journals. Dr. Runge has held leadership positions in numerous local, regional and national organizations. He is former Speaker, North Carolina Medical Society and past President, North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians. His longstanding service to professional societies includes the Association of Automotive Medicine, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Society of Academic Emergency Physicians. Dr. Runge is passionate in his pursuit to end preventable injury and death, grounded in his experiences caring for patients and families whose lives were forever changed by preventable injury. Dr. Runge and his family reside in Northern Virginia.