DALLAS — Mike Whitaker, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announced on Thursday that he will be stepping down at the end of President Biden’s term.

This decision comes on the heels of the FAA administrator meeting with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and touring the 737 plant in Renton, Washington, where the company's narrow-body aircraft are produced. At the time, Whitaker said Boeing’s plan was to restart production slowly—the 737 MAX production had been on hold for a month—and that he planned another meeting with the company in January.

For the 737 MAX production to resume, Whitaker expected Boeing to adopt an effective Safety Management System (SMS) with "policies and procedures to proactively identify and address potential operational hazards" in the hopes of having the right inspection points.

Boeing restarted its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner production last Friday, after a seven-week strike by 33,000 factory workers, presumably with the the new SMS in place.

We don't know if Whitaker stepping down next month leaves the second meeting with Boeing in the air, but the decision leaves the FAA without critical leadership at a time when the agency is grappling with ongoing safety challenges, persistent concerns regarding its oversight of the American aircraft manufacturer, and confirming that mystery objects "moving at extreme speed" in Oregon airspace.

Whitaker’s resignation comes after just over a year in a role that was originally designed to span five years, ensuring, as the New York Times puts it, leadership continuity and reducing political influence over the FAA—the nation’s foremost aviation safety body. Had Whitaker served his full term, it would have extended into a potential second term for President-elect Donald J. Trump.

Whitaker’s departure coincides with the resignation of Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson, creating an unexpected leadership gap within an agency that has faced difficulty securing a leader willing to complete a full five-year appointment.

Michael Whitaker's Message

Reflecting on his tenure, Whitaker praised the dedication and excellence of FAA staff. In a message to employees, he wrote, “This past year, air travel rebounded to near record highs, but cancellations were at record lows—a testament to your excellence and dedication. It is not just me who recognizes what you do—the tens of thousands of people who fly every day do, too.”

As President Biden’s pick to lead the FAA, Whitaker testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at the end of 2023, answering a range of questions and showing his knowledge regarding air travel.

Before taking the helm of the FAA, Whitaker worked in the private sector designing autonomous flying taxis. Before that post, he served as Deputy Administrator at the FAA from 2013 to 2016. A trained pilot, Whitaker has spent over three decades in the aviation industry, including in executive roles with United Airlines (UA) and InterGlobe Enterprises, India’s largest travel conglomerate.

This unexpected change of guard comes at a time when the FAA is addressing several significant challenges, including aging aviation infrastructure, the ongoing risk of near collisions involving commercial aircraft that "need to be completely eliminated”, according to Whitaker, and the problem with Boeing.

Featured image: The Wilbur Wright Federal Building, one of two buildings used as the headquarters of the FAA in Washington, D.C..