Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Institutes for Behavior Resources Announces Leadership Transition and Continued Innovation for SAFTE-FAST
Baltimore, MD — March 30, 2026 — The Institutes for Behavior Resources (IBR) today announced a leadership transition effective July 1, 2026, as Dr. Steven Hursh steps down from his role as President after more than two decades of visionary leadership.
During his tenure, Dr. Hursh helped shape IBR’s mission and led the development and global adoption of SAFTE-FAST, the industry-leading fatigue modeling platform used to support safety and operational performance across aviation, transportation, energy, defense, and other safety-critical industries.
Dr. Hursh, the inventor of the SAFTE model will continue contributing to the platform’s scientific direction as Strategic Advisor for Biomathematical Modeling. His continued involvement will help ensure that rigor, innovation, and reliability—qualities organizations depend on—remain central to its future development.
IBR is pleased to announce that Dr. Derek Reed will assume the role of President and Chief Behavioral Scientist beginning this July. Dr. Reed brings deep expertise, strong enthusiasm for the SAFTE-FAST mission, and full confidence in the exceptional team behind the platform. Dr. Reed is an internationally recognized thought leader in behavioral economics and organizational behavior management, including behavioral safety.
A key member of the team is Dr. Jaime Devine, whose scientific leadership will continue to drive the quality and credibility of SAFTE-FAST as Chief Sleep Scientist. Together with Dr. Reed, the science team will expand SAFTE-FAST’s capabilities by incorporating deeper insights into the behavioral and psychological factors that influence fatigue, complementing the platform’s established modeling of sleep and circadian rhythms in operational environments.
This next generation of SAFTE-FAST will capture important aspects of fatigue that are often overlooked or underappreciated, strengthening the platform’s ability to support safer and more effective decision-making.
“The science is strong. The team is strong,” said Dr. Hursh. “And in the words of IBR’s founder, Dr. Joseph Brady, onwards and upwards.”
About the Institutes for Behavior Resources (IBR)
The Institutes for Behavior Resources is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing behavioral science research and translating scientific insights into practical tools that improve health, safety, and operational performance. Through platforms such as SAFTE-FAST, IBR supports organizations worldwide in understanding and managing fatigue risk.
Media Contact:
Murray McGrath
Director, Client Services | SAFTE-FAST
Institutes for Behavior Resources
mmcgrath@saftefast.com