Jim Santilli, CEO

Jim Santilli has more than 24 years of transportation safety experience in the United States of America, focused on engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency medical services. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Transportation Safety Organization (NTSO), a position he's held since appointed in 2011. Previously, Santilli worked in a variety of public safety positions and as a college criminal justice instructor.

During 2024, Santilli received the Richard H. Austin Long-Term Service Award from the State of Michigan for long-term contributions and commitment to traffic safety. He also recently received a General Aviation Award for being selected as the 2025 Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team Representative of the Year for the East Michigan Flight Standards District Office.

Santilli serves on the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee, and is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He previously served as the Chairman of the Michigan Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commissions’ Distracted Driving Action Team from 2021 to 2024 and 2013 to 2018, and President of the Intelligent Transportation Society of Michigan’s (ITS Michigan) Board of Directors from 2016 to 2017.

As a leader in distracted driving awareness, Santilli worked with victims to create a high-profile distracted driving campaign that received a national award. He announced the Hands-Free Michigan Campaign on March 30, 2016, and worked with elected officials to write and enact a hands-free law. Furthermore, Santilli launched an enforcement initiative known as “Operation Ghost Rider,” which was featured nationally in The Wall Street Journal and at the 2019 Governor’s Highway Safety Association’s Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California.

Santilli holds an Airman Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration with a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) rating. He has more than 10 years of experience flying multirotor and fixed-wing unmanned aircraft, and completed private pilot ground school courses. Furthermore, Santilli was trained in drone assessment and response tactics for Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). Since 2018, Santilli has trained professionals from 291 agencies (federal, state, county, local, tribal, and college/university) and companies in 34 states throughout the United States of America. He’s flown numerous public safety missions, including four hurricanes. Santilli is an appointed Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team Representative, and member of the Air & Space Forces Association. He previously served on the Michigan Aeronautics Commissions’ Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Advisory Committee, and was part of a law enforcement aviation unit for 4 years.

Santilli is a graduate of Ferris State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, received the Torchbearer Leadership Award, and an award from the Department of Public Safety for many years dedicated to traffic safety. He is also a proud graduate of Michigan's largest high school, Dakota High School. His training includes 911 dispatch, child passenger safety, criminal justice, emergency management, emergency medical services, and traffic incident management. Additionally, Santilli completed Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) training for electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) and pharmacology, and Advanced Life Support (ALS) training pertaining to advanced airway management, advanced ECG/EKG, opioid, respiratory emergencies, and trauma.