FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt Resigns

December 6, 2011 –In the wake of his arrest for driving while intoxicated, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has resigned his position. Babbitt issued the following statement on Tuesday afternoon:

“Today I submitted my resignation to Secretary Ray LaHood and it has been accepted. Serving as FAA Administrator has been an absolute honor and the highlight of my professional career. But I am unwilling to let anything cast a shadow on the outstanding work done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by my colleagues at the FAA. They run the finest and safest aviation system in the world, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work alongside them. I am confident in their ability to successfully carry out all of the critical safety initiatives underway and the improvements that the FAA has planned. I also want to thank Secretary LaHood for his leadership and dedication to the safety of the traveling public.”
           
Babbitt was charged with DWI by Fairfax, Virginia, police after they saw him driving on the wrong side of the road on Saturday evening, December 5. There was no accident, and Babbitt reportedly was cooperative throughout the process. Babbitt was alone in his vehicle; he was released pending a court action scheduled for February. No details of the event, such as his blood alcohol level, have been released by the police.

Deputy Administrator Michael Huerta has been named acting FAA administrator. Babbitt had been in the post since June of 2009.