FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey has named David B. "Bruce" Johnson as director of the Air Traffic Service and Linda M. Schuessler as deputy director. They are responsible for managing the
operations that ensure the safe and efficient flow of all air traffic – airline, private and military – throughout the United States.

The Air Traffic Service has a workforce of 24,000, including about 18,000 air traffic controllers who staff the nation’s airport control towers, terminal radar control facilities, enroute air traffic centers and flight service stations.

"Both Bruce and Linda bring an extensive background and operational experience to their new positions," said Administrator Blakey. "They will continue to provide the strong leadership Air Traffic needs as it enhances safety, modernizes airspace systems and adds capacity during a critical period for aviation."

Johnson reports directly to Steven J. Brown, FAA Associate Administrator for Air Traffic Services and succeeds Bill G. Peacock, who retired May 2 after 30 years with the FAA. Schuessler takes over from Jeff Griffith, who retired late last year.

Beginning his FAA career in 1974, Johnson was an air traffic controller first in the Albuquerque enroute center and then in the Fort Worth center. He then spent more than five years as the air traffic manager at the Houston center before serving as the assistant air traffic division manager in the FAA’s Great Lakes Region from November 1996 to September 2000. Since then, Johnson has been the air traffic division manager in the Northwest Mountain Region. He holds a B. S. degree in education from Northeastern State College, Tahlequah (OK).

Schuessler has led the Air Traffic Evaluations and Investigations staff since May of 2002. Before that, she spent two years at the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Herndon (VA), where she was responsible for tactical operations and system efficiency. Earlier, Schuessler was the assistant air traffic manager at the Atlanta enroute center. It was also at the Atlanta center that she joined the FAA in 1974 as a controller. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B. S. degree in math and science education.

FMI: www.faa.gov