The White House yesterday renewed its nomination of Phillip Washington to become the next FAA administrator after the Senate failed to act on it in the previous Congress. Washington, who is CEO of Denver International Airport, was announced as the selection for the role in July.
Billy Nolen, who joined the agency at the beginning of 2022 as associate administrator for aviation safety, has been acting FAA administrator since the departure of Steve Dickson at the end of March.
Washington led the Denver airport for just a year when originally nominated but brought a background in managing large transportation organizations, including as CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and of the Denver Regional Transportation District. He also spent 24 years in the U.S. Army, retiring from active duty as a disabled veteran with the rank of command sergeant. Washington further led Biden’s transition team for the Department of Transportation after the 2020 election.
The Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FAA post, never moved on the nomination, which was reportedly bogged down over a corruption probe stemming from his time with the LA Transportation Authority. Washington has denied any wrongdoing.