President Donald Trump has appointed Chris Rocheleau as the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after the mid-air collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Thursday.

President Trump announced Rocheleau’s appointment during a White House press briefing on Thursday. Rocheleau will serve as acting FAA administrator until Trump’s selected nominee is confirmed by the Senate as the next permanent administrator.

Who is Rocheleau?

Rocheleau joins the FAA after serving as the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) chief operating officer for the past three years. Before joining NBAA in 2022, he spent over 20 years at the FAA in various roles, including acting associate administrator for aviation safety, chief of staff, assistant administrator for policy, international affairs, and environment, executive director for international affairs, and director of the office of emergency operations and investigations.

He also served as a United States Air Force (USAF) officer and special agent, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2010. He was also an early TSA leader, managing Intelligence Operations Watch and advising on transportation policy.

Rocheleau holds a bachelor’s degree in arts from Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Public Administration from City University of Seattle.

He has completed the Executive National Security Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, USAF Air Command and Staff College, and the Corporate Aviation Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

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