NATA Congratulates Caitlin Locke on FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Appointment

Washington, DC, June 18, 2026 - NATA issued the following statement congratulating Caitlin Locke on being named Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety. Locke, who has spent nearly 18 years at the FAA, moves into the agency's top civilian safety role after serving as Executive Director of the Aircraft Certification Service within the Aviation Safety organization. The appointment aligns with ongoing FAA efforts to modernize certification, strengthen safety oversight, improve efficiency, and better integrate new technologies into agency processes.

"NATA congratulates Caitlin Locke on her promotion to FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety. She has been a valued partner to NATA and the broader general aviation community, bringing technical expertise and a collaborative approach to complex safety and certification issues. Locke's leadership through the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative reflects the balanced, data-driven, and solutions-oriented engagement that is essential to addressing industry priorities while reinforcing the safety and strength of the national airspace system. We look forward to continuing our work with her in this important new role," stated NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna.