Uber Hires Former NHTSA Safety Researcher

Uber Technologies Inc. has hired Nat Beuse to oversee safety for the car-sharing company’s autonomous vehicle program.

Beuse spent the last 11 years working for the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most recently as associate administrator for vehicle safety research. In that role, he was responsible for developing and conducting research on vehicle automation, cybersecurity, connectivity and crash safety.

Uber suspended most of its testing in March after one of its Volvo XC90s operating in autonomous mode killed a pedestrian in Arizona. The company, which says it has improved its safety protocol, aims to resume public testing in Pittsburgh within months.

Beuse’s appointment follows that of Matt Olsen, who Uber hired in August to be chief security officer. Olson previously was general counsel for the U.S. National Security Agency.

Several other companies developing autonomous vehicles systems have made similar staffing moves. Last week, Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo unit named Debbie Hersman, who had headed the non-profit National Safety Council, to become its safety chief in January.