Trump Picks Chris Rocheleau for Interim FAA Chief
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President Donald Trump has chosen Chris Rocheleau to lead the Federal Aviation Administration on an interim basis after the Jan. 29 collision between a Sikorsky helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C.
Trump announced his selection during a Jan. 30 press conference on the collision over the Potomac River as American Eagle Flight 5342 was on a final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Mike Whitaker resigned as FAA administrator as Trump took office for his second term on Jan. 20.
Since June 2022, Rocheleau had been chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association, and accepted a deputy administrator job this month with the FAA.
Rocheleau
The Vertical Aviation International trade group called Rocheleau “exceptionally” prepared for the role, saying his prior experiences had given him a strong understanding of “the complexities of aviation safety.”
Before his stint with the National Business Aviation Administration, Rocheleau spent just over a year as FAA deputy associate administrator for aviation safety during former President Joe Biden’s administration, including under former FAA chief Stephen Dickson.
According to a 2020 edition of a Central Connecticut State University alumni magazine, Rocheleau is originally from Newington. He served a decade in the U.S. Air Force, and obtained a master’s degree in public administration from City University of Seattle.
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After more than five years with the FAA, Rocheleau became a senior policy adviser with the Transportation Security Administration shortly after its November 2001 formation following the 9/11 attacks. Rocheleau returned to the FAA in October 2005, and held a succession of roles through 2022 including FAA chief of staff during Trump’s first term in office.
The FAA operates under the U.S. Department of Transportation.
