MICHAEL RUSSELL NAMED NHTSA DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Topics:  Michael Russell

NHTSA
January 26, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 4-98
Monday, January 26, 1998
Contact: Michael Russell
Tel. No. (202) 366-9550

Ricardo Martinez, M.D., administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has named Michael Russell as NHTSA's Director of Public and Consumer Affairs.

"Mike Russell brings to NHTSA years of experience in successfully translating public policy into plain language for our customers -- Americans and their families," said Dr. Martinez. "His work with the National Performance Review will be a good fit with our efforts to keep NHTSA out front in providing world class service to the American public."

Russell previously served as press secretary for the National Performance Review, Vice President Al Gore's reinventing government task force, and assumed his new duties on Jan. 5, 1998.

Before joining the Vice President's reinvention task force, Russell had served as press secretary to U.S. Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D. He filled the same slot with both U.S. Senator Donald Riegle (Mich.) and Congressman William D. Ford (Mich.). Russell had an extensive television news career in Pennsylvania and Michigan before coming to Washington. He is a graduate of the Boston University School of Public Communication and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Russell and his wife, Rita, reside in Sterling, Va.