FAA Deputy Administrator Who Led 2025 Washington DC Crash Response Resigns

Published Jul 31, 2026, 2:13 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Chris Rocheleau, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official who led the primary response to American Airlines Flight 5342, will step down from his role at the FAA. He held the role of deputy acting administrator at the start of the Trump administration and served as acting administrator from January 30 until July 10. Rocheleau will now return to his role as the Chief Operating Officer at the National Business Aviation Association. Rocheleau was the official who led the response from the FAA for the fatal January 2025 collision between an American Eagle CRJ700 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, where the two aircraft collided in the darkness of night above the Potomac River, killing 67 people onboard. Rocheleau Named As Acting Administrator Days Before The Fatal Crash Credit: Flickr Rocheleau had been named as acting administrator just days before the fatal crash, and following an intensive investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB) was able to determine that the collision was caused by the FAA decision to permit helicopters to operate in and around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) with no safeguards. These safeguards would separate the military aircraft from other airplanes, and the investigation found that the administration failed to review flight data and also act on previous recommendations of moving helicopter traffic away from the airport. Rocheleau remained in his acting head of the FAA post until this July, has been instrumental in the continued improvement in safety issues, and acknowledged the gaps that led to this fatal incident, speaking with Congress in 2025 stating "clearly something was missed." Since the collision, the FAA has made several operational changes, which have included revising helicopter routes and, since March, suspending the use of visual separation between helicopters and airplanes at major metropolitan airports. Returning To The National Business Aviation Association Credit: Flickr Following Rocheleau's resignation from the FAA, the NBAA announced its return of Rocheleau as Chief Operating Officer, a role he previously held between June 2022 and January 2025. With his return to the NBAA, Rocheleau will now oversee activities that relate to aircraft operations, while also supporting administrative, financial, technical, and human resource functions across the association. In the release by the NBAA, the organization acknowledged the hard work that Rocheleau has undertaken during both tenures at the FAA, including the two decades of service in multiple executive roles that were held before 2022. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen explains: “We are thrilled to welcome Chris back to NBAA, where he will build upon his record of success in leading a senior team charged with ensuring that the organization delivers excellence to the business aviation community. His deep commitment to service, his strategic approach to organizational management and his trusted relationships with top leaders throughout government and industry uniquely qualify him for this important role at NBAA.” Rocheleau’s Leadership Through Turbulent FAA Periods Credit: Flickr Rocheleau has arguably led the FAA through one of its most turbulent periods, guiding the agency through the wake of the American Eagle and Army helicopter midair collision. Following the incident, Rocheleau initiated the nationwide review to mitigate similar collision risks across complex airspaces, and additionally supported US Department Of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy with the acceleration of hiring new air traffic controllers. Following the appointment of Bryan Bedford to lead the FAA as the administrator, Rocheleau backed Bedford in ongoing advocacy and development of a new Air Traffic Control System in a bid to modernize the national airspace system. Other initiatives that involved Rocheleau included the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) initiative and the electric vertical takeoff and landing ( eVTOL) integration pilot program (eIPP). Rocheleau holds a bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut State University and a master's degree from the City University of Seattle. Across his time working for the administration, roles held included the Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety; Chief of Staff; Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy, International Affairs and Environment; Executive Director for International Affairs; and Director of National Security Programs, Emergency Operations and Investigations.