ACTION ALERT: Support Phil Washington’s nomination to lead FAA

Before we get to business, I want to congratulate a dear friend of BizFed on a well-deserved nomination. I couldn't be prouder to share that Phil Washington has been tapped by President Joe Biden to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. We found the candid below from our June 2018 BizFed Board meeting. Phil led our meet-and-greet session, answering questions, welcoming comments, and sourcing ideas from every member who stepped up to speak.

This shot captures Phil in his element doing what he does best:
building, energizing, and leading coalitions.

Those of you who didn't have the privilege of working with Phil during his tenure as Metro CEO from 2015 to 2021 still benefit from the partnerships he established, the jobs he helped business leaders create, and the infrastructure upgrades he pushed to accelerate. Phil's close collaboration with BizFed was instrumental to the passage of Measure M in 2016. It launched the nation's largest public works program, which is creating an estimated 700,000 jobs. We couldn't have done it without Phil.

Now, on to our action-oriented asks!

Phil Washington's nomination to serve as FAA Administrator is endorsed by transportation leaders nationwide who point to his transformative achievements as Metro CEO and in his current role as CEO of Denver International Airport. The FAA needs decisive leadership at this critical moment in time. The agency is facing mounting pressure amid airline staffing shortages, travel surges, and public scrutiny over its handling of safety certification. Phil is a leader who knows how to build public confidence, cut through bureaucratic gridlock, and bring stakeholders on different sides of an issue together. The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has yet to set a hearing date but we're submitting our endorsement letters ASAP.

We're urging all BizFed members to amplify our support. Aviation safety, air traffic management, civil aviation abroad, and the FAA's other vital duties impact all of us.

WE HAVE TWO URGENT ASKS:

1. Submit individual support letters signed by your group or organization. We welcome you to use our letter as a template. Send your letters to chris.wilson@bizfed.org by next Friday, August 26th and he'll blast them out to committee members so their inboxes are flooded with a stream of support messaging.

2. Submit your logos for inclusion in our coalition letter. The messaging is the same. We're sending senators this separate letter so we can showcase broad support in a single document. Send your logos to chris.wilson@bizfed.org by next Friday, August 26th.

Looking forward to securing and celebrating Phil's confirmation!

Tracy Hernandez
BizFed Founding CEO