FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey and the FAA’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Russell Chew have named the following key executives to head up the service units within the agency’s new Air Traffic Organization (ATO):

Charles E. Keegan, vice president of En Route and Oceanic Services; David Bruce Johnson, vice president of Terminal Services; James H. Washington, vice president of Flight Services; Linda M. Schuessler, vice president of System Operations; Steven Zaidman, vice president of Technical Operations; Steven J. Brown, vice president of Operations Planning; Dennis DeGaetano, vice president of Acquisition & Business Services; and Peter Challan, vice president of ATO Transition.

“The title, ‘vice president,’ matches the performance expectations for these executives,” said Blakey. “This team will bring a business-like focus to running their respective service units and will be held accountable for results.”

“We are putting in place a highly talented and dedicated leadership team that understands the operational and technical aspects of their services,” said Chew. “The ATO’s lean and simple customer-based structure, supported by solid financial management practices, will give them the opportunity to excel in improving the value of our services to customers, now and into the future.”

SecTrans Mineta announced the first phase of establishing the ATO on Tuesday. The ATO will consolidate the FAA’s air traffic services, research and acquisition, and Free Flight Program activities into a leaner, more efficient organization with a strict focus on providing the best service for the best value to aviation and the  traveling public.

To ensure the highest level of safety, Peter Challan, in his new position as vice president of ATO Transition, will be responsible for maintaining the safety of the current system on a day-to-day basis, while directing the wide variety of activities and efforts associated with establishing the Air Traffic Organization. He will serve as the principal advisor to the COO on the full range of issues related to transitioning to the ATO from the previous organizational structure. Challan formerly served as the FAA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Air Traffic Services and has been with the FAA since 1969.

• Charles Keegan will be responsible for the delivery of all en route air traffic services to the customer, including implementation of new capabilities; as well as the oceanic airspace services delegated to the FAA by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Keegan formerly served as Associate Administrator for Research and Acquisitions and has been with the FAA since 1979.
• Bruce Johnson will be responsible for the delivery of all terminal air traffic services to the customer, including implementation of new capabilities. Johnson formerly served as Director, Air Traffic Service, and has been with the FAA since 1974.
• James Washington will be responsible for delivery of all flight advisory services to the customer, including implementation of new capabilities, in the flight service station program. Washington formerly served as Director, Air Traffic System Requirements Service, and has been with the FAA since 1978.
• Linda Schuessler will be responsible for the coordinating traffic flow for all day-to-day en route and terminal operations of the air traffic control system. Schuessler formerly served as Deputy Director, Air Traffic Service, and has been with the FAA since 1974.
• Steve Zaidman will be responsible for the delivery of navigation services to the customer, as well as communication and maintenance support services to the operating service units. Zaidman formerly served as Director, Airway Facilities, and has been with the FAA since 1968.
• Steve Brown will be responsible for the strategic planning and operating performance for the ATO, as well supervising the work of the chief architect of the National Airspace System, chief scientist for research and development, and international operations liaison. Brown formerly served as Associate Administrator for Air Traffic Services and has been with the FAA since 1998.
• Dennis DeGaetano will be the acquisition executive responsible for ATO policies in acquisition contracting and shared business services, including information technology, human and labor relations, and legal services. DeGaetano formerly served as Deputy Associate Administrator for Research and Acquisitions and has been with the FAA since 1970.

All of the new ATO executives will retain their current FAA operational responsibilities as the organization transitions to business operating units. The transition to this fist phase of ATO operations is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2004.  Operational and support staff will be assigned to each business unit at that time.

FMI: www.faa.gov