Varnum partner Sara Bennett has been appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Transportation Research Board (TRB) Standing Committee on Developments and Advancements in Transportation Technology Law.
TRB provides leadership in transportation innovation and improvements by delivering impartial and evidence-based research and guidance across all modes of transportation. Each year, TRB engages thousands of transportation professionals from government, academia, and the private sector who volunteer their expertise to advance knowledge, share best practices, and address pressing challenges in the field.
Bennett is a mobility and regulatory attorney with extensive experience in emerging vehicle technologies, privacy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. She advises clients in the transportation sector on regulatory compliance, policy trends, and legal risk, with a focus on connected and automated vehicles. Her practice is built on a decade of federal service, including senior positions with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
At NHTSA, Bennett led high-profile initiatives on Automated Driving Systems, vehicle data, and cybersecurity. She advised agency leadership and Congress on technical and legal issues, represented the United States before the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and directed the agency’s vehicle cybersecurity incident response technical team.
Her previous work also included coordinating with the White House and multiple federal agencies on transportation policy, trade, and foreign investment. Additionally, Bennett served as Acting Division Chief for Trade and Investment at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Her federal service has been recognized with honors, including the NHTSA Administrator’s Superior Accomplishment Award and the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary’s Partnering for Excellence Award.
Bennett earned her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and her B.S. from Kent State University.
