The Department of Transportation is making several shifts in its and the FAA’s senior leadership teams with the departure of FAA acting chief Billy Nolen, including the naming of Polly Trottenberg to step into the acting administrator role effective immediately.
Trottenberg has been the DOT deputy secretary and COO since April 2021 and has more than 25 years of public sector experience including as transportation commissioner for New York City. There she had oversight for roadways, bridges, the traffic and parking system, and the Staten Island Ferry, among other responsibilities. Trottenberg also was assistant secretary and undersecretary for policy at DOT under the Obama Administration.
In addition to Trottenberg’s appointment, DOT noted that the White House plans to appoint Katie Thomson, who has been the FAA’s chief of staff, as deputy administrator for the agency, and Keith Washington, DOT deputy assistant secretary for administration is moving over to the FAA to serve as acting chief of staff.
Meanwhile, the FAA Deputy FAA Administrator, A. Bradley Mims, is joining the DOT’s Office of the Secretary to head up the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
“I am pleased to announce a team of experienced leaders to guide the FAA,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “I am grateful to Billy for his service during one of the most challenging and dynamic times in aviation, and I have full confidence in Polly’s steady hand during the search for a permanent administrator.”
Nolen announced in April that he would be stepping down. Nolen initially joined the FAA at the beginning of 2022 to serve as associate administrator for aviation safety but took over the acting role after former FAA Administrator Steve Dickson left halfway through his five-year term.
Nolen, in announcing his decision to depart the agency, said he would depart this summer as a new FAA Administrator is named and cited a desire to spend more time with his family, a reason that Dickson also gave for why he left his post early.
The announcement by Nolen also followed the withdrawal of Phil Washington from consideration for the FAA Administrator’s post. Washington’s nomination had drawn considerable objections from Republican lawmakers who noted that while he had considerable transportation experience, very little of it involved aviation.
The White House has not yet named another permanent FAA Administrator nominee, but former Obama Administration FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker has been floated as a possibility.