|
February 21, 2023
Colleagues,
Change is constant at the FAA, and today is no different. FAA Chief of Staff Jessica Sypniewski is taking a new role after 18 months. Jess has been by my side since I became acting administrator. Brad and I (and Steve Dickson before me) have relied on her experience, knowledge and judgment on everything from policy to oversight to operations.
Jess was the perfect person for this important leadership role, drawing on her more than 15 years in the agency, including time as chief of staff for the Air Traffic Organization and a director in the Office of NextGen. No matter what the issue, Jess always led with a calm and steady demeanor.
And she will continue be a leader at the FAA as the next deputy assistant administrator of NextGen. Jess will focus on helping the agency evolve how we provide services to our traditional aviation community while safely integrating a wide variety of new users, a transition that is coming at us fast.
As for what happens next, I am pleased to welcome back Katie Thomson to the FAA as the next chief of staff. Katie, currently director of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the U.S. Department of Transportation, is a former FAA chief counsel as well as general counsel for DOT, working on transportation law and policy. She is also the former vice president and associate general counsel for worldwide transportation and sustainability at Amazon.
Katie will be a great asset to the FAA as reauthorization takes off, more Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is invested, and electric air taxis enter our airspace. She will begin transitioning today and be fully onboard February 27.
Please join me in thanking both Jess and Katie for their service and offering our support in their new roles.
-Billy
|
