Cammisa Brings Wealth of Experience to Safety, Connectivity Role at ATA
Michael Cammisa, a self-described “car guy” while growing up in Alexandria, Virginia, spent the past 16 years at the Association of Global Automakers, most recently as senior director of safety and connected vehicles.
On Dec. 5, the 55-year-old Cammisa moved to the trucking world as vice president of safety policy and connectivity for American Trucking Associations.
“I had a great time at Global Automakers, great companies to work for, but it will be really interesting for me to learn a new industry,” Cammisa said. “And I’m getting in on the ground floor with the new team at ATA.”
ATA President Chris Spear, the leader of that team, met Cammisa while working for Hyundai Motor Co. and serving on the Global Automakers’ board of directors.
“Mike has decades of experience as a leader in highway and vehicle safety,” ATA President Chris Spear said. “His understanding of the emerging issues surrounding the autonomous vehicles, the regulatory process and his connections within the safety community will be invaluable to ATA and its members, and we are pleased to have him join our team.”
Cammisa, who worked with government officials and automakers on their regulation of connected and automated vehicles while at Global Automakers, is looking forward to doing the same for ATA.
“They said they really want to get the trucking industry involved in automation and connectivity,” Cammisa said. “Sixteen years ago, I was working on crashworthiness. Over time, we got into crash avoidance. It’s been a while that connectivity was percolating in the research community, and I was involved in some of that, providing the manufacturers’ perspective and the regulatory concerns. Then, automation came on the heels of connectivity. This is an opportunity for me to apply my skills in a new industry.”
Cammisa, who has an unusual trio of degrees in mechanical engineering, business administration and public policy, has worked for defense contractors, conducted research for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and served as an engineering and management consultant.
“Trucks play a vital role in our economy, and I’m looking forward to working with ATA members to improve on this industry’s already strong safety record,” Cammisa said. “New technologies are setting the groundwork for an exciting future for trucking, and I’m pleased to be joining an organization that will play a large role in shaping that future.”
