It's not that he knew nothing about aviation (he ran Denver International Airport), he didn't have first-hand experience as a pilot. But here's the thing - that's okay. FAA is a mess right now, and Phil Washington has experience cleaning up messy organizations. That works perfectly find for a Federal administrative position where you're generally only on the job for a few years and move on. You can argue that it's even fine in the long term - how much software or hardware engineering experience does Tim Cook have again?
Sometimes the only way to escape regulatory capture is to hire an outsider, at least temporarily.
Unfortunately the administration did Washington dirty by not properly preparing him for his confirmation hearing.
If a guy who ran an airport is qualified to regulate air safety, then a guy who owned a parking lot is qualified to regulate auto safety.
Running an airport is running a business. An airport parks airplanes and collects rent from airlines and concessionaires. It wouldn’t teach you what you need to know to regulate airlines or air safety.
It's not that he knew nothing about aviation (he ran Denver International Airport), he didn't have first-hand experience as a pilot. But here's the thing - that's okay. FAA is a mess right now, and Phil Washington has experience cleaning up messy organizations. That works perfectly find for a Federal administrative position where you're generally only on the job for a few years and move on. You can argue that it's even fine in the long term - how much software or hardware engineering experience does Tim Cook have again?
Sometimes the only way to escape regulatory capture is to hire an outsider, at least temporarily.
Unfortunately the administration did Washington dirty by not properly preparing him for his confirmation hearing.