The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is experiencing another leadership change as Administrator Michael Whitaker announced his departure on December 12th. Whitaker, who assumed the role in October 2023, will step down on January 20th, coinciding with the inauguration of the incoming Trump administration.
Whitaker brought extensive aviation experience to his role at the FAA. He previously served as Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer at the FAA, spearheading the modernization of the air traffic control system. Before returning to the FAA, he held leadership positions at Supernal, a company developing electric air vehicles. Whitaker also spent 15 years at United Airlines earlier in his career in a variety of roles as Director, Vice President and Senior Vice President.
In a message to FAA staff, Whitaker expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve and highlighted the agency’s commitment to safety. He also announced the departure of Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson on December 10th and named Mark House, the current Assistant Administrator for Finance and Management, as the acting deputy administrator.
The FAA has experienced significant turnover in recent years, with several administrators serving brief terms. This trend has coincided with challenges such as overseeing Boeing’s aircraft certification process and developing regulations for emerging technologies like air taxis and commercial drones.
