US FAA hiring two Southwest Airlines employees for senior roles (updated)

Southwest Airlines

29/09/2026 19:13

Adds more changes
WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said it hiring two Southwest Airlines LUV.N employees for senior roles at the agency and is tapping a senior official at NetJets to serve as the agency's chief counsel starting next month.    
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Chris Kelly, a senior regulatory attorney at Southwest Airlines, will join the FAA as  the new associate administrator for airports.
     Other changes:
* Southwest senior federal affairs director Michael Ciamarra will join the FAA as assistant administrator for policy and rulemaking.
* Jeff DeVore, who has been in-house counsel at NetJets, will serve as the new FAA chief counsel.  
    * Current Chief Counsel and acting deputy administrator Liam McKenna is being named FAA Chief Strategy Officer 
* Bailey Wood named FAA assistant administrator for government and industry affairs, who most recently has been director of strategic communications for Vertical Aviation International.

 (Reporting by David Shepardson)
 ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))