Trump Appoints Faa-veteran Chris Rocheleau To Serve As Agency’s Acting Administrator

Plane crash condolences from Donald Trump turn to blame DEI hiring

A press conference offering sympathy to those impacted by the American Airlines plane crash quickly turned political.

President Donald Trump appointed a U.S. Air Force and FAA career veteran to head up the Federal Aviation Administration as it investigates this week’s deadly plane and helicopter crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, among other matters. 

New acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau fills the vacancy left by Mike Whitaker, who stepped down early when Trump took office on Jan. 20. Whitaker was unanimously confirmed as FAA administrator in October 2023. Prior to that, the FAA had gone without a permanent administrator for more than a year. FAA administrators typically serve five-year terms. 

Rocheleau has more than 20 years of experience at the FAA, including roles like deputy associate administrator for Aviation Safety and director of National Security Programs, Emergency Operations and Investigations. He also previously served as chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association and was an early leader in the Transportation Security Administration, according to his FAA bio. 

Among Rocheleau’s priorities will be reviewing hiring practices at the federal agency. During a White House press conference on Thursday, Trump implied a connection between Wednesday’s crash and hiring practices for air traffic controllers under the Biden and Obama administrations. He specifically cited inclusion efforts for people with disabilities. In a presidential memorandum the same day, he ordered the heads of the FAA and Transportation Department to “review all hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols made during the prior 4 years.”

Days earlier, Trump ordered the FAA, among others, to move away from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The agency, however, has struggled with large shortages of air traffic controllers, who must meet stringent medical requirements that could not be circumvented by DEI initiatives.

Disability rights advocates and civil rights leaders have blasted the president for linking the crash to DEI. 

Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY