About the Author: Sarah Barczyk has spent most of her career in the energy, oil and natural gas industries where she focused on strategic communications planning, executive and thought leadership, crisis communications, as well as writing, editing and public relations work. She has led communications for multiple challenging restoration and recovery efforts by creating and implementing integrated communications plans. Sarah currently serves as president of Four Score Strategies, a strategic communications consulting firm serving a variety of industries and companies, and is an adjunct professor in the communications field. Robert L. Sumwalt is the Executive Director of the Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Previously he served as Board Member, Vice Chairman, and Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, where he served for 15 years. He served under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. While at the Board, Member Sumwalt was a fierce advocate for improving safety in all modes of transportation, including teen driver safety, impaired driving, distractions in transportation, and several aviation and rail safety initiatives. He remains active in advocating transportation safety matters.
"""As National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on-scene spokesperson for over 35 accidents, including the Merrimack Valley accident, I have made plenty of mistakes. Looking back, I wish I had the benefit of reading The Valley is Burning: When Communications Becomes the Crisis before stepping into my NTSB communications role."" -Robert L. Sumwalt III, NTSB Board Member, 2006-2021; NTSB Chairman, 2017-2021"