In a recent press release, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the largest and oldest safety society with more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members, expressed its support of the selection of Dr. John Howard as the new director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a position he held from 2002-2008.

“ASSE is pleased that this Administration has recognized the quality leadership of Dr. John Howard and appointed him to return to lead NIOSH,” ASSE President C. Christopher Patton, CSP, said. “At NIOSH, he ably helped the talented professionals take their leadership roles in occupational safety and health and set a visionary direction for NIOSH that, with adequate resources, can address the rapidly changing risks in today’s workplaces. As it has in the past, ASSE and its member safety, health and environmental professionals look forward to working with Dr. Howard and his staff to continue to advance our understanding of workplace risks and their solutions.”

Dr. Howard will assume his new role September 8. He also served as coordinator of the U.S. Health and Human Services' (HHS) World Trade Center Health Programs from 2006 to 2008. He will again assume a dual role and also serve as the World Trade Center Programs Coordinator for HHS.