FAA Administrator
Blakey, and FAA Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer
Russ Chew have announced the appointment of Wilson N. Felder,
Ph.D., as the new director of the FAA’s William J. Hughes
Technical Center.
Felder succeeds Ronald Esposito, who retired after serving as
acting director of the Center, since January 3.
Felder will lead one of the nation’s premier aviation,
research, development, test and evaluation facilities. The
Center’s world-class laboratories and top-notch engineering
expertise place it at the forefront of the FAA’s efforts to
modernize the U.S. air transportation system.
“The Technical Center is the headquarters for the science
of aviation,” said Blakey. “Wilson Felder is both a
technical expert and a business executive. He’s exceptionally
well qualified to lead the research that will bring aviation into
this century.”
Felder also is the executive sponsor for the FAA’s
National Center of Excellence in Operations Research, a post in
which he will continue as Technical Center director.
Felder most recently served as the transition executive and
director for technology development in the FAA’s Air Traffic
Organization, since 2003. He was responsible for the field
assessment of new technologies with potential application in the
National Airspace System. He led several key research programs,
including: the Alaska Capstone initiative; Safe Flight 21; the Ohio
River Valley Program; Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
(ADS-B); advanced air traffic control satellite exploration; and
many safety technology initiatives aimed at reducing runway
incursions.
His previous FAA position was
special assistant to the director of the Terminal Business Service.
He was a key participant in a comprehensive program to restructure
the agency, introducing business-like management practices to its
air traffic operations.
Before joining the FAA, Felder was vice president of aviation
services at TRW, Inc., where he retired after 23 years of service,
in 2001. At TRW, he led the company’s engineering services
business with the FAA and the aviation community. His unit
generated $90 million in revenue annually, which he was largely
responsible for developing.
Felder has been active in the aviation community through
leadership roles in: the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA), the Air Traffic Control Association and the
Government Electronics Industries Association. He was named an
associate fellow of the AIAA, in 2004. He has authored more than 20
technical publications.
Felder served for 24 years as an active and reserve Naval
officer, retiring from the active reserve as a commander (special
duty, intelligence). He served as the intelligence officer for the
Carrier Group 4 reserve unit, and as executive officer of Naval Air
Station Keflavik RU 0166.
He has been active in the community, complementing his many
technical and professional accomplishments. He served as Potomac
district commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, and a board
member of the West Point Parents Club.
Felder holds master’s and doctorate degrees in
environmental science, and a bachelor’s degree in geology,
all from the University of Virginia.