Duane Pfund brings more than 35 years of hazardous materials transportation safety expertise to his role as Senior Consultant at HazMat Safety Consulting. He advises clients on complex dangerous goods (DG) compliance matters, including customized training development, compliance assessments, regulatory interpretation, special permits and approvals, and strategic program design. His guidance helps organizations manage risk, strengthen internal controls, and align with evolving domestic and international regulatory requirements.
Prior to joining HazMat Safety Consulting, Duane spent 25 years with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation. For 20 of those years, he served as Director of the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety International Program, leading international and national regulatory initiatives and overseeing policy implementation. He also held senior leadership roles as Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety and Acting Director of the Sciences, Engineering and Research Division.
Internationally, Duane represented the United States at the highest levels of dangerous goods regulatory development. He led the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods for 20 years, serving as Chairman for the final decade of his tenure. He also represented the U.S. for 10 years on the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel and led delegations at the International Maritime Organization and the European Joint Meeting of the RID/ADR/ADN. In addition, he served as Designated Federal Official for the Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee, helping guide U.S. policy on one of the industry’s most critical and high-profile safety issues. He is a contributing author and technical advisor to the Journal of Hazmat Transportation.
A graduate of Michigan State University in Packaging Engineering and a participant in the Department of the Interior’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, Duane combines technical expertise, regulatory leadership, and international diplomacy. His depth of experience enables him to deliver practical, defensible solutions that help clients remain compliant while operating efficiently in a complex global regulatory environment.
