National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen extended his gratitude to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker for his service and dedication to America’s aviation leadership.
Whitaker last week announced his plan to resign on Jan. 20, 2025, in a letter to FAA employees.
“While short, Mike’s tenure in the left seat at the FAA has been consequential – a number of important priorities have been advanced under his leadership, including measures to enhance safety, foster innovation, integrate new entrants into the aviation system and build the next-generation workforce,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank him for his service to our nation and our industry, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Whitaker received Senate confirmation as FAA administrator in October 2023. He assumed the role as leaders from across government and industry have been focused on ensuring that America retains its global leadership position in aviation, including through implementation of a bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill passed by Congress in May 2024.
In October, Whitaker keynoted the 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), where he unveiled the FAA’s Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) establishing requirements for the safe, efficient integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft into the nation’s aviation system.
“Powered-lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years, and this historic rule will pave the way for accommodating widescale AAM operations in the future,” Whitaker said upon signing the SFAR during a special event on the opening day of NBAA-BACE.
Whitaker previously served as the agency’s deputy administrator from 2013-2016, where he led FAA’s NextGen program and established the agency’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office, the first FAA organization dedicated to UAS operations in the National Airspace System (NAS).
He also held several key industry roles, including assistant general counsel for TWA, followed by 15 years with United Airlines, including senior vice president of alliances, international and regulatory affairs.
“This has been the best and most challenging job of my career,” Whitaker said in his farewell announcement to FAA staff. “As I conclude my time at the FAA, my confidence in you to meet our safety mission has never been stronger.”
