Right Column
Christopher J. Murphy
Director
Christopher Murphy was appointed Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the Governor's Highway Safety Representative in August 2005. Mr. Murphy has been with OTS for more than 25 years, serving in more positions than anyone in the office's 44 year history. He is charged with administering the California Traffic Safety Program, which includes preparing an annual comprehensive Highway Safety Plan to reduce victims killed and injured in traffic crashes and publishing an Annual Performance Report that details the accomplishments and progress of the California Traffic Safety Program.
Within his role as Director, Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of the Office, and is responsible for the administration, distribution and management of more than $70 million annually in traffic safety grants. As Director, Chris also sets the department’s annual strategic goals that include working collaboratively with BTH Agency and state departments to extend reach of programs and promote new leadership. He proactively addresses emerging traffic safety trends and issues, builds winning partnerships with private sector entities, funds evidenced-based programs, and evaluates and improves policies and procedures by applying future-oriented concepts of technology and management.
Mr. Murphy is also the immediate past Chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), a nonprofit association representing state and territorial highway safety offices that implement programs to address behavioral traffic safety issues. GHSA, often referred to as the “states’ voice on highway safety,” plays a key role in the development of national highway safety policy. As Chairman, Chris was fortunate enough to represent the highway safety offices of all states and territories when he testified before Congress to outline GHSA’s position regarding reauthorization of the federal transportation bill. To ensure California receives its fair share of federal traffic safety funding, Chris has met on more than one occasion with US Senate Counsel staff on Capitol Hill to make sure that California has input into the reauthorization language. In 1994, Chris received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator’s Highway Safety Program’s “Award of Excellence” and in 2008, he received NHTSA’s highest award, the “Public Service Award.” In 2009, Chris was honored with MADD’s prestigious “Beyond the MADD Mission” award.
Chris served as a national expert panel member in the development of the August 2008 published report titled “Traffic Safety Performance Measures for State and Federal Agencies.” He currently Chair’s the Management Review Task Force which interacts with NHTSA on behalf of all states to resolve outstanding management issues involving the interpretation of federal rules, funding, and regulations. Mr. Murphy also serves as a national expert panel member to develop a “self assessment” tool for states to help prepare for Management Reviews. Since 2002, Chris has been a faculty member of GHSA’s annual Executive Management training seminar for new state Governor Representatives.
Murphy is co-lead for California's Strategic Highway Safety Plan, active in the California Police Chiefs and California Peace Officers Associations - Joint Traffic Safety Committee, MADD Statewide Advisory Council, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) - License Suspension Committee, Governor's Prevention Advisory Council, California Older Driver Task Force, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - Highway Transportation Safety Committee on Safety Management, and the Teachable Moment Foundation.
Chris obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from California State University, Sacramento. He also is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, Executive Program. Chris is married to Lisa and has two children, Kyle and Katie.