Patrice Kelly is widely regarded as one of the most respected and influential voices in workplace drug and alcohol testing policy. Best known as the longest-serving Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) at the U.S. Department of Transportation, she spent more than three decades shaping, interpreting, and modernizing the federal regulations that govern safety-sensitive employees across every DOT agency.
Throughout her distinguished DOT career, Patrice led the Department’s work on 49 CFR Part 40, overseeing rulemakings, guidance development, industry outreach, and implementation strategy. She played a pivotal role in transforming federal drug and alcohol programs to keep pace with emerging substances, new testing technologies, and evolving safety threats. Her leadership ensured that millions of workers—and the employers responsible for them—received consistent, practical, and compliant direction.
Today, through Patrice Kelly Consulting, LLC,Patrice partners with employers, industry associations, laboratories, service agents, aviation repair stations, transportation providers, and multinational organizations. She delivers strategic regulatory consulting, high-level compliance support, and specialized training across both U.S. and international markets.
Deep Federal & Industry Experience
Patrice has been involved in DOT drug and alcohol testing policy since the 1990s, holding influential positions at both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and ODAPC. As an FAA enforcement attorney and later Deputy Division Manager of the Drug Abatement Division, she:
- Was the first FAA attorney to revoke an air carrier’s certificate for failure to implement drug and alcohol testing
- Initiated the FAA’s earliest civil penalty cases enforcing the testing regulations
- Advanced enforcement, oversight, and safety culture throughout aviation testing programs
At ODAPC, she served as Deputy Director, Acting Director, and ultimately Director—becoming the Department’s leading authority on DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements. Her work included interpreting Part 40 for employers, unions, attorneys, service agents, and federal officials; advising on Public Interest Exclusion (PIE) actions; and guiding national testing policy through major regulatory transitions.
Patrice also collaborated extensively with the Federal Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB), provided leadership on the DOT oral fluid testing final rule, and helped bridge the gap between Washington rulemaking and real-world implementation.
Education & Professional Background
Patrice is a graduate of Boston College and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She earned her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and is admitted to the bar in both the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania.
Her federal experience spans all three branches of government—including the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Department of State, and the late Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy. In the private sector, she represented national transportation companies in aviation, trucking, rail, and maritime.
Patrice is also a sought-after keynote speaker and educator, having delivered hundreds of high-impact webinars, conferences, and training sessions for government agencies, industry associations, and private employers.
Patrice Kelly Consulting & PKGS
Patrice Kelly Consulting, LLC provides the following services:
- DOT drug and alcohol testing program consulting across all transportation modes
- Global workplace screening strategy and compliance planning
- FAA Part 120 and aviation drug/alcohol program expertise
- Waiver and exemption drafting for FAA and DOT
- Policy interpretation and regulatory advisory services
- Expert witness testimony for litigation, arbitration, and grievances
- Professional speaking for webinars, conferences, and training events