Linda Daugherty

Ms. Daugherty is the Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety at the U.S. Department of Transportation. In this role, she serves as the senior career official leading the pipeline safety program for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), overseeing national policy, regulatory development, inspection and enforcement, accident investigations, public engagement, and state program partnerships.

With more than 34 years of experience at PHMSA, Ms. Daugherty brings deep technical expertise and leadership to the agency’s mission of protecting people and the environment from the risks of pipeline transportation. Her career has spanned both field operations and policy, providing her with a comprehensive perspective on the pipeline safety landscape.

Previously, she served as the Deputy Associate Administrator for both Field Operations and for Policy and Programs. In these roles, she led inspection and enforcement teams across five Regional and two District Offices, and directed multiple divisions including Accident Investigation, Inspection Development and Support, Operations Standards, Public Engagement, Enforcement, Engineering, Training and Qualifications, and more.

A chemical engineer by training, Ms. Daugherty began her career at PHMSA as an inspector/investigator and has steadily advanced through the ranks, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to safety, innovation, and public service.