Polly Trottenberg Named Acting Head of FAA

She will replace Billy Nolen, who plans to join eVTOL startup Archer Aviation in the coming weeks.

Amelia Walsh

Friday, June 09, 2023 at 02:57 PM ET

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Polly Trottenberg will be replacing Billy Nolen as FAA acting administrator. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

President Biden appointed Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg as the new interim head of the FAA, replacing Billy Nolen.
Trottenberg brings extensive public sector experience but, notably, lacks apparent aviation expertise, which was a barrier for a previous nominee to lead the agency.
This interim appointment provides stability for the FAA, which has been without a permanent, Senate-confirmed leader since 2022, while the White House conducts a national search for a new administrator.

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On Friday, President Joe Biden announced Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg will be the new interim head of the FAA.

Trottenberg will replace Billy Nolen, who plans to join eVTOL startup Archer Aviation in the coming weeks. Having served as New York City’s transportation commissioner from 2014 through 2020, Trottenberg boasts decades of experience in the public sector. She has served as a legislative staffer in the U.S. Senate for 12 years and worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.