Spokespersons for the National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB) must be prepared to provide clear, confident, and concise information amid the chaos of a transportation disaster. No two disasters are the same, and the information environment is almost always highly charged. Chris O’Neil, APR, Chief of Media Relations for the NTSB, will help you learn how to structure remarks for response and crisis communications.
About the Speaker: Chris O’Neil is the chief of media relations at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He joined the Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications at the NTSB in January 2016 and has more than 30 years of government communication experience earned through collateral duty and full-time public affairs assignments with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He directs, manages, and guides a staff of four to provide the full spectrum of media relations services to the NTSB.
At the NTSB Chris has served as an on-scene public affairs officer for the following accidents:
- Cimarron, Kansas, Amtrak train derailment;
- Chattanooga, Tennessee, school bus crash;
- Crozet, Virginia, Amtrak rail crossing accident;
- New York City Liberty Helicopters Crash;
- FIU Pedestrian Bridge Collapse, Miami, Florida; and the
- Hoboken, New Jersey, train derailment.
His professional volunteer work includes seven years of service, including his current role as immediate past president, on the board of directors of the National Association of Government Communicators. He is also a participating organization representative to the Universal Accreditation Board and serves on their examination preparation committee.
Chris holds three degrees: a master’s in public relations from Boston University; a bachelor’s in communication from Charter Oak State College; and an associate degree in criminal justice from University of Phoenix. He earned his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in December 2019.
Event Details:
When: May 27, 2021; 6:30 p.m.
Where: Zoom (log-in details will be provided to registrants prior to the event)
Cost: $5 (Members/Students); $15 (Non-members)
Registration for this event is now closed.