Chaudhary has served on Obama’s AAPI commission.
AB Wire
WASHINGTON, DC: Ravi Chaudhary, a former US Air Force officer, who has served on the President’s advisory commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, is the new executive director for regions and center operations at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates and oversees all aspects of American civil aviation.
Chaudhary would be responsible for executing a $288 million operating budget and would lead more than 2,100 federal employees in nine regions across the country.
In his new capacity, Chaudhary would be responsible for providing department of transportation and FAA – wide services in the areas of operations, safety, policy, corporate and congressional outreach, emergency readiness, facilities management, besides centralized support for the National Aerospace System, according to a press release.
In May last year, President Barack Obama appointed him on the President’s advisory commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Chaudhary advised the president on executive branch efforts to improve economic and community development, public and private sector collaboration, health, education and veterans’ support for the AAPI community.
Prior to joining the FAA, Chaudhary was an Air Force officer, serving as an Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. He has logged over 3,000 flight hours as a pilot and flight test engineer, including over 760 combat hours.
Chaudhary also served as Commander of the U.S. Air Force’s 317th Recruiting Squadron from 2011 to 2013. From 2009 to 2011, he served as Chief of Strategy Integration in the Air Force Strategic Plans and Programs division and as a speechwriter in the Secretary of the Air Force Executive Action Group at the Pentagon.
From 2001 to 2009, Chaudhary served as a C-17 Pilot in a variety of operational, deployed, staff and leadership roles for Air Mobility Command, and from 1993 to 2000 he was an Aerospace/Flight Test Engineer for Air Force Materiel Command.
Chaudhary’s awards include the NASA Stellar Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals.
Chaudhary received a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy, an M.S. from Saint Mary’s University, and an M.A. in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Force’s Air University. He is currently doing research at Georgetown University Doctor of Liberal Studies for Executive Leadership and Innovation.