Trouble’s Proliferation in Nepotism’s Long Shadow

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is stating he will push to confirm Phillip Washington, Joe Biden’s pick for FAA Administrator. Schumer’s assertion was made in the wake of an 11 January 2023 FAA database failure which occasioned the grounding of nearly ten-thousand U.S. domestic flights and raised questions about the protracted vacancy of the FAA’s top office.

“I intend to break this logjam,” Schumer declared, “work to hold a hearing for Mr. Washington, where he can detail his experience and answer questions and then work towards a speedy Senate confirmation.”

That Phillip Washington possesses few aero-qualifications nor experience commensurate with the demands of running the world’s most powerful aviation agency seems of little apparent concern to Schumer, whose priority appears to be filling the seat with a Democrat. Phillip Washington is also currently party to a federal investigation of public corruption, pay-to-play, fraud, and waste and abuse of public funds stemming from his tenure as CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

“There is no doubt about it,” Schumer stated, “it’s time to clear the runway for President Biden’s choice for FAA Administrator, Phil Washington. With recent events, including airline troubles and last week’s tech problem, this agency needs a leader confirmed by the Senate immediately.”

Senator Schumer’s position is sharply contradicted by Republican lawmakers, who cite not only Washington’s worrying dearth of qualification and germane experience, but the quantity/quality of allegations, investigations, and questionable dealings in which he’s been mired since 2015.

Senator Roger Wicker (Republican, Mississippi), the top GOP lawmaker on the Senate’s commerce committee, set forth that he was “skeptical because of the nominee’s lack of experience in aviation.” Senator Wicker added: “This position requires extensive knowledge of the industry in order to ensure the safety and efficiency of the agency and American air travel.”

Notwithstanding widespread and pointed difference of opinion regarding Phillip Washington’s qualifications for the office of FAA Administrator, prudence and fairness demand comparison of Mr. Washington’s curriculum vitae to those of former FAA Administrators. Ergo, here follow brief synopses of the backgrounds of some of the previous FAA Administrators dating back to the late 1980s:

James Buchanan Busey IV served as FAA Administrator from 1989-1991. Busey was a retired four-star admiral of the United States Navy who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations, from 1985 to 1987 and as Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe from 1987 to 1989.

In January 1952, Busey entered the United States Navy and attended basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. In March 1953, Busey was selected for the Navy’s Aviation Cadet Training Program at Pensacola, Florida.

In 1964 Busey attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees. In 1967, he was transferred to the Attack Squadron 163 ("Saints") and served as a combat pilot in the Vietnam War. Busey commanded a group of six aircraft tasked with bombing the Hanoi thermal power plant. Despite extensive damage to his aircraft by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft batteries, Busey destroyed the target and limped his machine back to the flight-deck of USS Oriskany (CV-34). For this action, he received the Navy Cross. Busey was also awarded the Legion of Merit with "V" Device, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, Air Medal, and Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device.

Thomas Carl Richards served as FAA Administrator from 1992 to 1993. Prior to his appointment to the lofty station of FAA boss, Richards was a United States Air Force general and the former chief of staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Richards entered pilot training and earned his wings at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, in 1957. Upon completing combat crew training, he was assigned co-pilot duties aboard a B-47 Stratojet of the Strategic Air Command's 19th Bombardment Wing. An excellent pilot, Richards was upgraded in short order to B-47E Stratojet commander before being transferred, in July 1961, to the 301st Bombardment Wing.

Richards completed Squadron Officer School in 1963 and received B-52 Stratofortress combat crew training at Castle Air Force Base from May to August 1964. His next assignment was with the 20th Bombardment Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. During this period, Richards served as an aircraft commander on the first B-52 combat missions over Vietnam.

David R. Hinson served as FAA Administrator from 1993 to 1996. Upon earning a B.A. degree from the University of Washington, Hinson joined the U.S. Navy and earned his U.S. Naval Aviator’s wings. After ten years of both active and reserve service, he took a pilot job with Northwest Airlines, and later joined United Airlines in the capacity of instructor pilot. Hinson subsequently accepted the position of captain and director of flight standards and engineering for West Coast Airline (later renamed Hughes Airwest)

In 1978, Hinson and two partners formed Midway Airlines, which he chaired from 1985 to 1991. Hinson also served as the executive vice president of Douglas Aircraft—then a subsidiary of McDonnell Douglas.

Robert A. Sturgell held the position of FAA Administrator from 2007 to 2009. Prior to entering public life, Sturgell attended the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1982 prior to earning a law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Sturgell served as an instructor for the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School before retiring as a Commander, having flown the F-14, F-16, and F-18.

Upon the completion of his military career, Sturgell joined United Airlines as a line pilot flying Boeing’s 757 and 767 on both domestic and international routes. In time, he was promoted to the capacity of flight operations supervisor. When he wasn’t flying, Sturgell practiced aviation law in the Washington, D.C. area, and served as senior policy adviser at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Randy Babbitt served as FAA Administrator from 2009 to 2011. A Florida native, Babbitt attended the University of Georgia and the University of Miami before embarking on a 25-year pilot career with Eastern Air Lines. During his tenure with Eastern, Mr. Babbitt served ALPA in numerous capacities, including Executive Administrator.

In 1990, Babbitt was elected to ALPA’s presidency, a position he held for eight years. Upon leaving ALPA, Babbitt formed Eclat Consulting, a Virginia-based airline management and financial consultancy. In 2007 Eclat and its personnel were made part of the Aircraft Management division of the American management consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

Daniel Elwell, a USAF Academy graduate and USAF pilot, held the position of FAA Administrator from 2018-2019. Elwell served as a combat pilot in Operation Desert Storm, a Command Pilot for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve, ultimately attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in international affairs.

Upon retiring from U.S. military service, Elwell joined American Airlines, where he passed 16-years as a line pilot before being named the airline’s managing director of international and government affairs. In 2008, Elwell was named vice president of the Aerospace Industries Association—a position he held until 2013 when he joined Airlines for America (A4A) as the organization’s senior vice president for safety, security, and operations.

Stephen Dickson served as FAA Administrator from 2019 to 2022. Dickson is a distinguished graduate of the USAF Academy and the Georgia State University College of Law, as well as a proven F-15 pilot. During a long and noteworthy career at Delta Air Lines, Dickson served as a line pilot flying Boeing’s 727, 737, 757, and 767. Time and experience saw Dickson promoted to senior vice president of Delta’s flight operations. In all Dickson spent 27 years flying for and helping manage the Atlanta-based legacy carrier.

Billy Nolen took up the mantle of FAA Administrator when Stephen Dickson stepped down in 2022 and remains the agency’s interim head. Nolen’s aviation career spans 33-years, during which he flew MD-80s, 757s and 767s for American Airlines. His dedication to operational safety saw Nolen named manager of American’s pilot aviation safety action program. Thereafter, he was made manager of flight safety and delegated responsibility for accident/incident investigations, flight operational quality assurance, line operations safety audits, and oversight of pilot and maintenance ASAPs.

Mr. Nolen then served as executive manager of group safety & health for the Qantas Group. In subject capacity, he provided advice and assurance to the Qantas Board, principally the corporate health, environmental, safety & security committee, the group CEO, the Qantas Group Management Committee, and Qantas’ executive management.

Phillip A. Washington was born on Chicago’s South Side in 1958. At age 17, Washington enlisted in the U.S. Army. In 24-years of service, he attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major. During his stint with the Army, Washington earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Columbia College Chicago and a Master of Management from Webster University. In 2000, Washington left the Army and applied for an assistant managerial position at the Regional Transportation District Cal Marsella. He got the job, and thereafter embarked on a bureaucratic odyssey across the American West.

FMI: www.faa.gov