Ford taps NHTSA vet in new chief auto safety officer role | Exclusive Ford Motor Co. has tapped a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration veteran for a new chief auto safety officer role, the Dearborn automaker confirmed to The Detroit News on Thursday. David Hines steps into the position on Monday, reporting to Steve Croley, Ford's chief policy officer and general counsel. Based out of Washington, D.C., he'll be responsible for the automaker's global product safety compliance, governance and strategy. Hines most recently served for more than 13 years as director of NHTSA's Office of Crash Avoidance Standards, according to his LinkedIn profile. “David’s 30 years of experience in automotive engineering and safety will be an asset to the company as we continue to put quality first,” Croley said in a statement. Hines' appointment comes as Ford has faced scrutiny around its quality. The Dearborn automaker last year set a record for the number of recalls issued in a single year, and warranty and repair costs have weighed on financial sheets. Ford also remains under a three-year independent federal monitor overseeing its recall processes, data analytics and compliance following a 2024, $165 million consent order. That order was adopted after NHTSA found Ford failed to recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner. Over the past few years, Ford executives have reshaped the automaker's approach to quality and industrial systems from development and engineering to the plant floor. They say it's bearing fruit, evidenced by its top ranking of mainstream auto brands in initial quality in JD Power's latest study. But executives say problems from past models are continuing to show up. Hines also will lead a cross-departmental team from engineering, digital design and software, quality, manufacturing and purchasing to ensure product safety design and quality throughout a