Randy Babbitt
Encyclopedia
J. Randolph "Randy" Babbitt (born 1946) is an American
businessman and government administrator. In 2009 he became the current Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA).
. He attended the University of Georgia
and the University of Miami
before becoming an airline pilot, flying for Eastern Air Lines
for 25 years.
Babbitt's father ("Slim" Babbitt) was also an airline pilot; he was one of the founding fathers of the Air Line Pilots Association
, which has become the largest airline pilot union in the United States and Canada. Randy Babbitt served multiple roles within ALPA, including serving as Executive Administrator 1987-1990. In 1990 Babbitt was elected President of ALPA and served for eight years in that position.
After leaving ALPA Babbitt formed an airline management and financial consulting firm in Reston, Virginia
, Eclat Consulting. In September 2007 the personnel of this company were merged into the Aircraft Management division of Oliver Wyman
.
appointed Babbitt to the FAA Management Advisory Council. While in that capacity Babbitt sat on an independent review panel advising the government on aviation safety policy.
President Barack Obama
formally nominated Babbitt to become the FAA Administrator on 27 March 2009. Babbitt's nomination was confirmed by the US Senate
on 21 May 2009; he was sworn in on June 1. Babbitt succeeded Robert Sturgell and Lynne Osmus, who had both served as Acting FAA Administrator since Marion Blakey
's term expired in 2007. Babbitt's FAA term is five years.
During his confirmation hearing Babbitt stated:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and government administrator. In 2009 he became the current Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA).
Career
Babbitt was raised in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
before becoming an airline pilot, flying for Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
for 25 years.
Babbitt's father ("Slim" Babbitt) was also an airline pilot; he was one of the founding fathers of the Air Line Pilots Association
Air Line Pilots Association, International
The Air Line Pilots Association, International , is the collective bargaining representative for over 59,000 pilots of 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines. ALPA was formed in 1931 and is a member of the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress...
, which has become the largest airline pilot union in the United States and Canada. Randy Babbitt served multiple roles within ALPA, including serving as Executive Administrator 1987-1990. In 1990 Babbitt was elected President of ALPA and served for eight years in that position.
After leaving ALPA Babbitt formed an airline management and financial consulting firm in Reston, Virginia
Reston, Virginia
Reston is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The population was 58,404, at the 2010 Census and 56,407 at the 2000 census...
, Eclat Consulting. In September 2007 the personnel of this company were merged into the Aircraft Management division of Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman is an international management consulting firm. Founded in 1984, the firm adopted its current form in May 2007, when Mercer Oliver Wyman joined with Mercer Management Consulting and Mercer Delta to become one firm named Oliver Wyman. Oliver Wyman is headquartered in New York City with...
.
With FAA
During the Clinton Administration, President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
appointed Babbitt to the FAA Management Advisory Council. While in that capacity Babbitt sat on an independent review panel advising the government on aviation safety policy.
President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
formally nominated Babbitt to become the FAA Administrator on 27 March 2009. Babbitt's nomination was confirmed by the US Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on 21 May 2009; he was sworn in on June 1. Babbitt succeeded Robert Sturgell and Lynne Osmus, who had both served as Acting FAA Administrator since Marion Blakey
Marion Blakey
Marion Clifton Blakey is president and chief executive officer of the Aerospace Industries Association. AIA represents the nation’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military, and business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial systems, space systems, aircraft engines, missiles,...
's term expired in 2007. Babbitt's FAA term is five years.
During his confirmation hearing Babbitt stated:
- "My number one priority is to focus on safety. This is a business where one mistake is one too many."