Ms. Douglass began her career as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee where she had responsibility for transportation and safety related legislation. She served as the Administrator for the Research and Special Programs Administration (a predecessor agency to PHMSA) where, among other safety initiatives, she implemented performance standards for hazardous materials transportation and created a successful federal/state partnership for hazardous materials transportation. She also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health in the U.S. Department of Labor and worked for the Environmental Protection Agency where she developed policy and documents to establish the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board and the National Environmental and Training Foundation.

From 1994 to 2002 she worked for two private sector trade associations involved in hazardous materials transportation safety. First, as Executive Vice President for the Institute of Makers of Explosives and later as Executive Director for the Steel Shipping Container Institute.

For the last seven years she served as the Chief Judge of an appellate board in the U.S. Department of Labor with responsibility for issuing final decisions for the Secretary. The Board's jurisdiction includes whistleblower protection for employees in the trucking, pipeline, environmental, railroad, aviation safety and security, and securities industries.

Ms. Douglass is originally from Kansas City and has lived in the Washington area for over 30 years. She is married to Mark Yachmetz.