National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chair Michael Graham will retire on 2 October, ending a four-year stint on the five-member board that began in 2020. The move comes just months after his confirmation to another five-year term and his designation as vice chair, creating an unexpected opening at the top of the US safety agency.
The NTSB confirmed the departure on 28 August and noted that Graham has served on the board since 2020. Aviation media reports highlighted that his exit would leave the board with three members, the minimum required for a quorum, unless a replacement is in place before he leaves.
Graham’s planned departure is unusual given the timing of his latest Senate confirmation in May and his relatively recent elevation to vice chair. It also comes at a sensitive point for the agency, which relies on a full panel to carry out investigations, rulemaking and other board actions.