Billy Nolen is set to leave the FAA just a year after joining the agency in January 2022, to spend more time with his family.
Nolen first joined as the associate administrator for aviation safety, before taking on the acting administrator role in April when former administrator Steve Dickson left halfway through his term.
He is set to depart when a new nominee for the position is named in the summer. US President Joe Biden’s pick for the role, Phillip Washington, CEO, Denver International Aviation withdrew his nomination last month, leaving it unclear who will take on the position.
“I have given everything to this agency, and now it’s time to do the same for my family, who have sacrificed so much and supported me during my time at the FAA,” Nolen said. “Not since the dawn of the jet age have we seen so many advances and changes in aerospace. Our mission to provide the safest aerospace system in the world requires us to adapt, learn and innovate, to think differently.”
Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg said: “Billy is a tremendous leader, a true expert and a dedicated public servant. He has kept safety as the FAA’s north star through one of the most complex periods in modern aviation.”
