Google hires NHTSA exec to oversee its self-driving car program

The No. 2 official at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is leaving government to join Google Inc. in January as the director of safety for self-driving cars.

Ron Medford, NHTSA’s deputy director, has a career of more than 40 years in government and been a key player in finalizing the landmark 2017-2025 corporate average fuel economy requirements to a fleetwide average of 54.5 mpg in 2025.

He’s been involved in all of the key safety issues NHTSA has investigated in recent years, as well as setting new safety rules.