11/06/2025 at 10:00AM
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing for nominees of the National Transportation Safety Board and Surface Transportation Board at 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
In May, Trump illegally fired Alvin Brown, the vice chair of the NTSB. In August, Trump illegally fired STB board member Robert Primus. Both Brown and Primus are Black.
Nominees:
- John Deleeuw, of Texas, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board, vice Alvin Brown, illegally fired
- Richard Kloster, of West Virginia, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board, vice Martin J. Oberman, term expired
- Michelle Schultz, of Pennsylvania, to continue as a Member of the Surface Transportation Board (renomination)
John DeLeeuw is currently the Managing Director Safety and Efficiency for American Airlines (AA). He also serves, and has served, as the Party Coordinator for American Airlines in National Transportation Safety Board investigations. Prior to flying at American Airlines, John was a C-130 Hercules Evaluator and Instructor Pilot in the United States Air Force. He participated in Desert Storm and numerous classified Special Operations throughout the world. John worked directly with US Army Special Forces and Navy SEALS flying HALO airdrops, and flying insertions/extractions in combat and covert operations.
Kloster, a Republican, is president and founder of Integrity Rail Partners, Inc., a consultant on railroads and rail equipment based in Charles Town, W. Va. With more than three decades’ experience with railroads, rail supply chain and rail suppliers, Kloster started out as a car inspector and moved “inside” working for Chicago Northwestern, Chicago Central and Pacific, and the Indiana Railroad. He was senior vice president and chief commercial officer at rail consultant Alltranstek, and senior consultant at FTR, another rail industry specialist. He also worked as director of business and market intelligence for railcar lessor GE Rail Services for more than 15 years. Kloster is on the executive board of the National Industrial Transportation League shipper trade group, as well as the board of the Railway Supply Institute. He holds degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of Alabama.
Schultz, a Republican and attorney, was first nominated to the rail competition regulator by Trump, and is currently in her second term as vice chairman of the board. Before joining the STB, Schultz worked at SEPTA as the agency’s director of legislative affairs and later as deputy general counsel. Earlier in her career, she was an associate at White and Williams LLP. Schultz is married to attorney Jim Schultz, who served as Associate White House Counsel in 2017.