John DeLeeuw of American Airlines would Take Over the Controversially Vacant Spot

Amid controversy from his firing of NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown earlier this year, President Trump is pushing to fill the board’s empty spot with Captain John DeLeeuw. The nominee flies Boeing 787s at American Airlines and serves as the carrier’s Managing Director of Safety and Efficiency.

DeLeeuw heads a team of over 60 members in multiple AA Safety Assurance programs, including Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), Fatigue Risk Management, and other components of the airline’s Safety Management Systems. He has also played a major role in the carrier’s communications with the NTSB, serving as the American Airlines Party Coordinator in investigations. Prior to his time in the commercial side of things, DeLeeuw served as a C-130 Hercules Evaluator and Instructor Pilot in the United States Air Force.

The board spot opened when Trump dumped Alvin Brown, the former mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, in May. Brown was a Democrat with no aviation background and had been confirmed to a full term under President Biden. His dismissal was confirmed with no specified reasoning, giving his lawyers grounds to argue that the law allows removal of an NTSB member only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct. Their lawsuit, filed in federal court, is now pushing for Brown’s reinstatement.

The case leaves DeLeeuw’s nomination in limbo. If things go according to Trump’s plan, he will be reviewed by the Commerce Committee, given a floor vote, and take the vacant seat for the remainder of Brown’s term, ending December 31, 2026. If the court sides with Brown, however, things get a little more complicated.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy has publicly supported DeLeeuw’s nomination, pointing to his long experience in airline safety. That sets him apart from Brown, who represented one of the Board’s designated non-technical seats. Brown’s lawyers maintain that the NTSB was deliberately designed to be separate from politics and that allowing presidents to fire members at will risks this reputation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov