NBAA continues to roll out the lineup for its keynotes at the BACE show in Las Vegas this October, announcing today that FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker will be among the featured speakers. The association also revealed yesterday that astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is among those speaking.
Whitaker makes his first appearance at NBAA-BACE as FAA administrator, following his confirmation to the post in October 2023. Since taking the job, he has had to tackle major issues confronting the FAA from the spate of close calls, the heightened scrutiny over the agency’s certification and oversight activities, the controller workforce shortage, and now implementation of the recently passed FAA reauthorization bill.
Already well known in aviation circles, Whitaker was widely welcomed to the job with industry and on Capitol Hill. He previously served as FAA administrator between 2013 and 2016, and just before his return to the FAA, he was COO of advanced air mobility developer Supernal.
“The pace of change in aviation is rapidly accelerating, with new technologies, new market entrants, and new business models driving an evolution in thinking about on-demand air mobility,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Through his experience and leadership role at the FAA, Administrator Whitaker is uniquely positioned to speak to the factors driving the aviation industry, today and in the future. We welcome the opportunity to hear his perspectives.”