Linda Daugherty

Ms. Daugherty serves as the Chief Safety Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). In this role, she offers strategic advice to the Administrator on safety and security policy while providing executive leadership on major organizational and operational initiatives across the agency.

With 35 years of public service at PHMSA, Ms. Daugherty brings a comprehensive, field-to-policy perspective to the agency’s mission of protecting the public from hazardous materials transportation risks. A chemical engineer by training, she began her career as a field inspector and investigator, steadily building deep technical expertise while going on to lead every major division within the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) - including inspection and investigation teams, enforcement, regulations, training, engineering, emergency response, public engagement, and state program oversight.

Most recently, she served as Acting Associate Administrator for OPS (2025–2026), following 15 years in executive leadership as Deputy Associate Administrator for both Policy and Programs and Field Operations. Ms. Daugherty has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to advancing safety, fostering innovation, and public service.