National Safety Council president and CEO to retire

National Safety Council president and chief executive officer Alan McMillan on January 15 announced his retirement, effective February 15.

McMillan has served the National Safety Council for more than 15 years. Initially a member of the council’s board of directors, McMillan was named NSC executive vice president in 1995 and elected president and CEO in 2001.

“Every day I am humbled by the commitment of council staff, our board leadership, and the volunteer spirit of the more than 50,000 companies, unions and government agencies that make up our membership,” McMillan said. “I leave knowing America is safer than ever before because of their efforts.”

McMillan’s career includes more than 42 years in government and private sector safety and health, including service with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and the Employment Standards Administration (ESA).

At OSHA, McMillan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, where he was responsible for day-to-day OSHA operations. As Acting Assistant Secretary for MSHA, McMillan was responsible for the safety and health of America’s miners. McMillan also served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards with responsibility for the Wage and Hour Administration, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, and the Office of Worker Compensation Programs. In 1990, McMillan was honored with the Presidential Award for Distinguished Executive Service, the highest award given to career executives by the president.

McMillan is also a former deputy director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s environmental, safety, health and quality programs.

NSC board chairman Joseph Ucciferro thanked McMillan for his service to the council and his commitment to safety “on behalf of the millions of people whose lives the Council touches every day.” Ucciferro, who is president and CEO, commercial and public sector businesses at Day & Zimmermann, praised McMillan for his leadership, foresight and long list of accomplishments.

Over the next few weeks, Ucciferro will lead Council efforts to develop an interim leadership plan and the launch of a national search for a new chief executive.  

“Alan has cultivated an exceptional leadership team during his tenure,” Ucciferro said. “I am confident that the council’s efforts in safety training, public education and advocacy will continue and thrive.”

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) is a non-profit, non-governmental, international public service organization dedicated to educating and influencing people to prevent accidental injuries and deaths. Members of the NSC include more than 50,000 businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Founded in 1913 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the primary focus of the NSC is promoting safety and health in the workplace, in transportation, and in homes and communities.