Dr. Cem Hatipoglu, NHTSA’s Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety Research, is responsible for the agency’s vehicle safety research activities, which are focused on achieving NHTSA’s mission of reducing fatalities and injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. This work includes developing and conducting research on driving automation, vehicle cybersecurity, vehicle connectivity, and vehicle crash safety.
Prior to his current role, Hatipoglu served as the acting associate administrator of NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis and director of the agency’s vehicle crash avoidance and electronic controls research office. Throughout his career at NHTSA, he’s led the development, execution, and delivery of research and test programs related to vehicle safety, crash avoidance, automated driving, electronic controls, and human factors in support of agency vehicle and traffic safety programs and motor vehicle safety standards. Within the Department of Transportation, he also served as the chief of NHTSA’s electronic systems safety research division and program manager at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Earlier in his career, Hatipoglu worked as a technical and business consultant following his tenure in the private sector leading the development and deployment of electronic safety systems for heavy vehicles.
Hatipoglu earned his doctorate in electrical engineering at the Ohio State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Case Western Reserve University.