FAA Update: Phil Washington Reportedly to be Renominated to Administrator Post; Winsome Lenfert to Leave Office of Airports
January 3, 2023
With lawmakers back today to begin the 118th Congress, the Washington news cycle is back in full swing and several media outlets, including Bloomberg, are reporting that President Biden intends to renominate Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport (DEN), to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA's Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS) Billy Nolen has been serving in an acting capacity atop the agency since the departure of former Administrator Steve Dickson in March of last year.
Since July 2021, Washington has run DEN, where he has overseen a nearly $2 billion capital investment project. Prior to this, Washington had an extensive and diverse transportation-related career, including serving as CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and CEO of the Denver Regional Transportation District. Originally from Chicago, he is a 24-year Army veteran and graduate of both Columbia College Chicago and Webster University.
Assuming the reports are accurate, Washington's nomination will be resubmitted to the Senate, where it will first need to be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee. Filling the agency's top post will likely be a priority for the committee as it gears up to begin debate on the next FAA Reauthorization bill.
In other agency news, FAA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Airports, Winsome Lenfert, has notified FAA staff that she will step down from her position by the end of this month and transition to a new career that will allow her to be closer to family. Lenfert has served in the Deputy Associate Administrator role since February 2017, where she has helped oversee programs related to airport safety and inspections, and standards for airport design, construction and operations at FAA's Office of Airports. No temporary or permanent replacement has been named yet.
With lawmakers back today to begin the 118th Congress, the Washington news cycle is back in full swing and several media outlets, including Bloomberg, are reporting that President Biden intends to renominate Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport (DEN), to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA's Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS) Billy Nolen has been serving in an acting capacity atop the agency since the departure of former Administrator Steve Dickson in March of last year.
Since July 2021, Washington has run DEN, where he has overseen a nearly $2 billion capital investment project. Prior to this, Washington had an extensive and diverse transportation-related career, including serving as CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and CEO of the Denver Regional Transportation District. Originally from Chicago, he is a 24-year Army veteran and graduate of both Columbia College Chicago and Webster University.
Assuming the reports are accurate, Washington's nomination will be resubmitted to the Senate, where it will first need to be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee. Filling the agency's top post will likely be a priority for the committee as it gears up to begin debate on the next FAA Reauthorization bill.
In other agency news, FAA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Airports, Winsome Lenfert, has notified FAA staff that she will step down from her position by the end of this month and transition to a new career that will allow her to be closer to family. Lenfert has served in the Deputy Associate Administrator role since February 2017, where she has helped oversee programs related to airport safety and inspections, and standards for airport design, construction and operations at FAA's Office of Airports. No temporary or permanent replacement has been named yet.
