A group of former FAA leaders has issued a bipartisan endorsement for the nomination of Bryan Bedford to serve as the 20th administrator of the agency.
In a letter addressed to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell viewed by Reuters, the former officials urged the committee to advance Bedford’s confirmation without delay.
The signatories, who represent a significant cross section of recent FAA leadership, include former administrators J. Randolph Babbitt, Marion Blakey, Stephen Dickson, Jane Garvey, and Michael Huerta. The letter was also signed by former acting administrators Daniel Elwell, T. Allan McArtor, Billy Nolen, Bobby Sturgell, and recent Joe Biden appointee Mike Whitaker.
Citing their “firsthand understanding of the aviation sector,” the signatories emphasized the gravity and complexity of the role. They stated that at a time when aviation is facing “pressing challenges and transformative opportunities,” Bedford possesses the “experience, leadership, and character essential to guide the FAA forward.”
The former leaders believe Bedford is “exceptionally qualified to lead this effort from day one.” Currently, Bedford serves as the CEO of regional airline Republic Airways, but has held several high-level roles within the airline industry.
The endorsement points to Bedford’s more than 30 years of experience in the airline industry, noting that he combines financial and operational expertise as both a certified public accountant and a multirated pilot. His track record, they wrote, reflects a “deep commitment to safety, innovation, and effective leadership—exactly what this moment demands.”
In their formal appeal to the Senate committee, the signatories concluded that the “flying public, and the entire aviation ecosystem, would be well served by his swift installation as FAA Administrator.”
The committee is set to conduct a hearing on Bedford’s nomination on Wednesday. He was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the FAA in March.
