Melody Drummond Hansen Appointed as
FMCSA New Chief Counsel

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has a new Chief Counsel. FMCSA appointed Melody Drummond Hansen in June 2024, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration.

Duties as New Chief Counsel

Drummond Hansen will help the FMCSA boss and senior staff with legal matters. She will lead a team of more than 50 lawyers. They will work on things like:

• Rules and laws
• Court cases
• Enforcing laws
• Buying and giving out funds
• Ethics
• Job issues

Her work will be important to make sure the FMCSA follows the law.

Drummond Hanson’s Industry Experience

Drummond Hansen has a lot of prior experience. She has worked in the car and transportation industries for over 10 years. She also has 20 years of experience with new technologies. Before this position, she worked at a law firm called BakerHostetler LLP. There, she helped lead the Automotive/Mobility team and was part of the Intellectual Property Group. She advised on many things, like:

• Self-driving and connected cars
• Managing vehicle fleets
• Electric and hydrogen-powered cars
• Data privacy
• Digital systems
• Artificial intelligence

Her Educational Background

Drummond Hansen is from South Carolina. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University. She also has a Master of Science from the University of Oxford and a law degree from the University of Chicago. Her education and experience make her a great choice for this job.

Drummond Hansen’s appointment is important for the FMCSA. Her skills in law and technology will help the agency improve safety and follow rules in the trucking industry.

Looking Ahead as New Chief Counsel

Drummond Hansen’s background in new technologies and her work in the car and transportation industries make her a smart leader for the FMCSA. Her leadership should bring new ideas and help the agency promote safety and follow the law.

With Drummond Hansen’s help, the trucking industry can expect strong and smart leadership that keeps up with new changes in transportation technology.