Politics & Government
Former Chantilly High Student: NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman in the Spotlight
Mother of three receives high marks for composure under pressure when emergencies strike.
A former Chantilly High Charger has been in the white-hot international spotlight since July 6, when Asiana Flight 124 crashed in San Francisco.
Deborah A.P. Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, attended Chantilly High School and has been front and center in the media since the crash that killed three.
Hersman, 43, is the daughter of retired Air Force Brigadier General Walt Hersman, who served two tours in Vietnam as a fighter pilot. She grew up as the eldest of three daughters and moved around a lot, spending time in places that included Amman, Jordan, and Madrid. Her family settled in Northern Virginia when Hersman was 17 years old. She met her husband Niel Plummer at Chantilly High, according to numerous news stories.
The mother of three boys was profiled on NBC Nightly News Friday night and in newspapers and other TV news shows across the country.
Twitter has lit up with compliments of Hersman's composure under pressure:
- Kyle wrote: Glad @nbcnightlynews profiled my new favorite government official, @NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman
- Khrista wrote: Deborah Hersman of #ntsb is my new fave female power player. #LeanIn #NBCNightlyNews
- Nancy said: NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman - an outstanding example of candor and credibility. http://bit.ly/15Mb6d0 #UncommonCandor @NTSB
Hersman received B.A. degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Virginia Tech, and an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She holds a commercial driver's license (with passenger, school bus, and air brake endorsements) as well as a motorcycle endorsement.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
