Thomas E. Dunlap

Accident Investigations
As the Senior Adviser to the Vice Chairman of the NTSB, Ted developed a strong knowledge base in the areas of agency administration, personnel matters, and the NTSB’s statutory and regulatory authority. He had a key role on a range of matters where he participated in the Board’s go-team launch, advising the board members on-scene on crisis communications, team coordination, government relations, and accident investigation. He has spoken widely to legal, insurance and business groups on the topics of accident response, effective communication, and NTSB investigations. He has a current Top Secret security clearance.

At the NTSB, Ted worked closely with government and industry on numerous safety issues, including the Board’s collaborative campaign to end distracted driving, and the persistent issues related to FAA Notices to Air Missions. To improve the real-time dissemination of weather information to the National Air Space, he spearheaded a collaboration with industry, the FAA, and the National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center to show the efficacy of semi-autonomous Pilot Report (PIREP) submissions where the report can be entered in the air, transmitted via a satellite connection, and immediately viewed by pilots and controllers.

Ted also launched along with NTSB Go-Teams to high-profile accident investigations, advising the Board on-scene on crisis communications, team coordination, government relations, and accident investigation. Notable accident launches include the 2024 cargo ship collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and ensuing bridge collapse, in Baltimore, MD; the 2022 Metra commuter train collision with a box truck in Clarendon Hills, IL, near Chicago; the 2021 Seacor Power Oil & Gas ship that capsized in the Gulf of Mexico; the 2022 head-on collision of a truck with a passenger van carrying a college golf team in Andrew, TX; and the 2019 Miami Air runway overrun into the St John’s River, in Jacksonville, FL.

Forensic Investigations
Earlier in his career, Ted served as General Counsel and Director of Client Relations at an engineering firm that specialized in conducting forensic investigations and consulted on transportation-related matters. Previously, he was a litigator in private practice, concentrating on civil litigation and coverage matters, and assisting a wide variety of clients with maritime, aviation, product liability, general liability, commercial, and construction issues. Ted helped ensure timely work within scope and budget. Beyond supporting the team that researched timely issues such as lithium battery failure modes, unmanned aircraft investigations and safety, aircraft certification, and catastrophic events worldwide, he earned wide respect for locating specific subject-matter experts who could truly provide the scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge to educate and explain challenging concepts. Prior to his legal career, Ted worked in the marine industry, including maritime history and cultural resource management.