U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation and former combat pilot, released the following statement regarding her strong support for Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator: 

“As Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, and as a former Blackhawk helicopter pilot who flew combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I’m proud to support the nomination of Phil Washington to be the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Mr. Washington is a tough, proven leader who served our nation in uniform for 24 years, enlisting in the U.S. Army at age 17 and rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major. As a civilian, Mr. Washington has led large, complex transportation industry organizations, and currently runs the third-busiest airport in the United States. Most importantly, Mr. Washington has promised to defend critical aviation safety standards—and withstand pressure from industry special interests to cut corners and water down pilot requirements, such as cutting the 1,500 hour rule.

“Simply put, Mr. Washington possesses the experience and leadership expertise to strengthen the FAA to meet the complex challenges facing our civil aviation system. At this seminal moment for FAA, we need a strong and principled leader who recognizes that restoring confidence in our civil aviation system will require more than ‘business as usual.”