David Kelly took over as Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after the August 29, 2008, resignation of administrator Nicole Nason. President Bush officially nominated Kelly to be NHTSA administrator on September 2, 2008. Kelly was a member of the staff of the National Safety Council from 1996 to 2003 and was program manager and Director of the Council’s Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign. He also held leadership positions with Mothers Against Drunk Diving. Kelly held the position of deputy assistant secretary for government affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation, prior to his appointment as acting administrator, was the chief of staff at NHTSA, managing the agency’s daily operations.