FAA Names New Aviation Safety Executives

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Acting Administrator Lynne Osmus has announced several key personnel changes in the agency’s aviation safety organization. Peggy Gilligan was named the new associate administrator for aviation safety.

Gilligan has served as deputy assistant administrator for aviation safety since July 1995. Previously, she was chief of staff for four FAA administrators, served in the chief counsel’s office, and was an attorney in the FAA’s Eastern Region in New York.

Gilligan has been the government co-chair for the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) since July 2001 and has played a vital role in working to reduce the commercial accident rate to a historic low. She also provided support to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s Rapid Response Team on aircraft safety following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Recommendations from that team led to rules that hardened cockpit doors, as well as operational changes to enhance aviation security. John Hickey, director of FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service since 2000, will replace Gilligan as deputy assistant administrator for aviation safety.