Bryan Bedford, President Donald Trump’s choice to head the FAA, has retired as CEO of Republic Airways, the airline he has said led since 1999.
In a statement, the carrier said its board of directors appointed current chairman David Grizzle to serve as CEO effective immediately. Matt Koscal, who most recently served as executive vice president and chief administrative officer, was promoted to president.
“Bryan has led Republic through extraordinary periods of challenge and transformation with clarity, compassion, and integrity,” Koscal said. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside him for more than a decade and have benefited immensely from his leadership and mentorship. As he enters his next chapter, I know I speak for the entire Republic family in expressing our gratitude and best wishes.”
Trump tapped Bedford to serve as the next FAA administrator in March, citing his depth of industry experience. His nomination recently cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on a party-line, 15-13 vote. Confirmation proceedings will move to the full Senate after the July 4 holiday.
While Bedford is backed by the major U.S. airlines, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and various industry groups, his positions on safety regulations, including the FAA’s 1,500-hour rule, have generated pushback from the Air Line Pilots Association and congressional Democrats.
The rule requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time for first officers seeking the airline transport pilot certificate. During a confirmation hearing last month, Bedford did not directly respond to a question asking if he would stand by the regulation, though he said he would not compromise safety at the FAA.
Bedford also faced criticism over a biography on Republic’s website that claimed he had a commercial pilot license. Bedford is a licensed private pilot but never obtained a commercial credential.
After the issue was brought to light by Politico, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a statement defending Bedford, and his biography on Republic’s website was altered.
