West Virginia native Sarah Feinberg has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the permanent administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., applauded the decision Wednesday.
"I truly believe that her experience as a leader and a problem solver, along with her willingness to tackle difficult issues and engage stakeholders about realistic solutions, will be an asset to the FRA and the entire Department of Transportation," Manchin said in a press release.
Feinberg has been serving as the acting administrator of the Railroad Administration since Jan. 9, leading the agency through a difficult year that included multiple accidents, including the Feb. 16 train derailment outside Mount Carbon in Fayette County.
Manchin said in his statement that he was "impressed by [Feinberg's] effective and efficient response" to the Mount Carbon derailment.
Feinberg served as chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Transportation and managed the agency's 10 modal departments, according to the transportation department's website. She is the second woman to lead the agency since its founding in 1966.