New Second-In-Command to Serve Under… Who?

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) veteran Chris Rocheleau was recently sworn in as the agency’s Deputy Administrator. He will serve as the acting chief while we await the new president’s formal pick.

Rocheleau has more than 20 years of experience with the FAA, previously serving as the Chief of Staff, Assistant Administrator for Policy, Executive Director for International Affairs, and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment. His most recent role was the Deputy Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety, where he was responsible for monitoring and enforcing safety standards throughout the industry.

In June 2022, Rocheleau left the FAA to assume the Chief Operating Officer (COO) position with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). He replaced Steve Brown, who retired after 12 years of being COO and a total of 18 years with the organization. A few months later, Rocheleau again followed in Brown’s footsteps and joined the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Board of Directors.

Now, Rocheleau is returning to his roots as Deputy Administrator of the FAA. While this is a notable development, the top-of-the-ladder position remains vacant. Rocheleau will act as Interim Chief until there is an official selection.

Finding - and keeping - a suitable FAA Administrator has posed a challenge over the last several years. Stephen Dickinson held the position for just under three years before passing the torch to Billy Nolen in April 2022, then to Polly Trottenberg in June 2023, and eventually to the final pick of Mike Whitaker in October 2023.

However, the unanimously-voted FAA Administrator announced that he was ready to jump ship last December, only 14 months into a supposedly five-year term. Whitaker formally left office on January 20 during President Trump’s inauguration.

Sean Duffy, President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Transportation, stated that the administration is looking to select an FAA Administrator who is "strong and capable and ready to roll." His priority is to improve safety in the National Airspace System (NAS) by modernizing air traffic control and ensuring "that we have safe planes coming out of Boeing."

FMI: www.faa.gov