Steven S. Cliff

Executive Officer

California Air Resources Board

Dr. Steven Cliff was appointed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as Executive Officer (EO) in September 2022, where he leads nearly 2,000 employees that create and implement programs to reduce air and climate pollution. He recently was the 16th Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), leading efforts to set vehicle safety standards for the US.

Cliff has extensive scientific and regulatory experience. He previously served as CARB’s deputy executive officer, oversaw its climate program and was appointed by Governor Brown to Caltrans as the inaugural assistant director for sustainability. He has also led research efforts at the University of California, Davis related to air quality and climate change.

Cliff earned a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Davis’ Department of Land, Air and Water Resources.