WASHINGTON — Three new Metro Board members with extensive safety backgrounds are all set to join the board’s safety committee as the federal government emphasizes the need for changes at Metro.

Former National Transportation Safety Board member Carol Carmody, who also served as acting chairman, is set to become the new chair of the Metro Board of Directors Safety Committee Thursday.

The proposed committee assignments are outlined in a document set to be approved by the Metro Board Thursday morning.

Former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator David Strickland is set to be handed the gavel of the committee responsible for capital program planning.

Federal Railroad Administration Chief Safety Officer Robert Lauby is assigned to the safety committee, finance committee and pension subcommittee in the draft.

The three are replacing other transportation or planning experts, including former Metro Board Chairman Mort Downey.

Thursday afternoon, the safety committee is scheduled to be briefed on Metro’s ongoing response to the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Transit Administration directives tied to the deadly smoke incident last year outside L’Enfant Plaza.

The committee is also scheduled to receive an update from Chief Safety Officer Pat Lavin on the McPherson Square incident that led to the complete shutdown of the Metro system in March for cable inspections and repairs.