President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Chris Rocheleau, the former chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association, will be serving as the acting commissioner of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the recent passenger plane collision near Washington, DC.
During a press briefing at the White House, Trump praised Rocheleau as a highly respected individual and introduced him as the acting commissioner. The announcement was made in the presence of several officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy.
Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that Mike Whitaker, who led the FAA during the Biden administration, had stepped down, leaving the agency without a key leader amidst one of the deadliest aviation accidents in American history. Several key positions within the FAA, such as associate administrator of airports, associate administrator for security and hazardous materials safety, chief counsel, assistant administrator of communications, assistant administrator of government and industry affairs, and assistant administrator for policy, international affairs, and environment, remain unfilled as the new administration transitions into power.
Furthermore, President Trump terminated Transportation Security Administration chief David Pekoske on Inauguration Day, leaving both the TSA chief and deputy administrator positions vacant. The lack of leadership in these crucial roles raises concerns about the operational effectiveness and decision-making capabilities of these agencies during a period of heightened aviation safety concerns.
