The White House is bringing back former senior FAA official Michael Whitaker to take the helm of the agency. Rumored for months as the pick to lead the FAA, Whitaker has been serving as COO of Supernal, a Hyundai Motor company that is designing an electric advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. He served as deputy FAA administrator under the Obama Administration from 2013 to 2016.
Whitaker also has a long background in airline operations, spending 15 years in leadership roles at United Airlines and three decades of legal-oriented positions with Trans World Airlines. Before his most recent position at Supernal, he was group CEO of InterGlobe Enterprises, which operates IndiGo.
He is being nominated to an FAA post that has remained open on a permanent basis since Steve Dickson left halfway through his five-year term in March 2022. Billy Nolen then slid into the position on an acting basis, but he departed the agency in June and, in an ironic twist, has also stepped into the AAM realm as chief safety officer for Archer Aviation. More recently, DOT COO and deputy secretary Polly Trottenberg moved over to serve as acting administrator.
The White House previously had nominated Denver Airport CEO Phil Washington to the role, but he withdrew from consideration after facing substantial Republican opposition, particularly over his lack of aviation experience.
Whitaker, however, today has already drawn wide support from across the gamut of industry, most of which is well familiar with him. NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said the association “enthusiastically” supported the nomination and added, “Mike Whitaker has long been an outspoken aviation safety advocate and champion of innovation in the industry, who demonstrated during his time as deputy administrator at the FAA that he is a proven leader who delivers results.”
Helicopter Association International president and CEO James Viola noted that he worked closely with Mike during his time with the agency and said, “I am confident that he is the right person to lead the agency at a time when aviation— particularly vertical aviation—is evolving at such as rapid pace.”
General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce added that Whitaker “possesses the leadership skills, management experience, and aviation knowledge needed to lead the FAA.” Bunce further noted the recent appointment of Katie Thomson as deputy administrator and said the combination “will be a strong leadership team for the agency.”
Among others weighing in was the Air Line Pilots Association, which praised Whitaker’s understanding of strong safety and training regulations.
Thomson, meanwhile, had taken the deputy administrator role in June after serving as chief of staff for the agency.