President Biden To Nominate Former Obama Official To Run The Federal Aviation Administration

WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) – President Joe Biden will nominate a former Obama administration official to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, which has been without a permanent leader for a year and a half.

The White House said Thursday that Biden will nominate Michael Whitaker.

He’s currently the chief operating officer of a Hyundai affiliate that is working to develop an air taxi aircraft.

The FAA faces a number of challenges including a shortage of air traffic controllers, aging technology, and alarm over close calls between planes.

Whitaker worked at TWA and United Airlines, then was deputy FAA administrator from 2013 to 2016.