Nicholas Worrell

Nicholas Worrell has served as the Director of the Office of Safety Advocacy for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) since June 2015. Over his 25-year career with the NTSB, he has held positions as a Public Affairs Officer and safety advocate. Prior to joining the NTSB, Mr. Worrell proudly served for eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Recognized as an expert on transportation safety issues and advisory strategies, Mr. Worrell regularly addresses local, state, and international governments; private industry; various organizations; youth safety leaders; and educators instructing on NTSB safety investigations and the adoption of safety regulations throughout the private and government sectors.

In 2019, Mr. Worrell spoke before the Nigerian, South African government on Effective Safety Advocacy, and Creating Positive Change in Transportation Safety in Kenya as part of the Safer Skies Program, and coordinated safety efforts throughout the Caribbean region, including in Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados. In both 2017, 2018 and 2019, he also addressed the International Road Federation’s Caribbean Regional Congress, and offered a U.S. perspective at the U.K.’s National Safer Roads Partnerships Conference.

Among other key accomplishments, Mr. Worrell coordinated the development of the agency’s Most Wanted List, which provides the top safety recommendations for the transportation industry. He also works closely with the Director of Safety Recommendations and Communications and with NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt, with whom he recently collaborated to develop and implement NTSB’s core values throughout the agency. Additionally, he assembled a coalition of transportation safety experts from multiple interagency partners, which has become the premier platform from which transportation communicators can plan and speak with a single, credible voice.

Mr. Worrell was born in Bridgetown, Barbados, where he attended the school formerly known as St. James Secondary School. He graduated from The Master’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He also has earned two Master’s degrees: one from Howard University in Public Policy/Public Administration, and the other from George Washington University in Strategic Public Relations. He has also attended the John C. Maxwell Leadership Center, and became a certified speaker/coach/trainer in 2018. Mr. Worrell is currently pursuing his Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance at American University.