Bryan Bedford | |
|---|---|
 Official Portrait, 2025 | |
| 20th Administrator of theFederal Aviation Administration | |
| Assumed office July 10, 2025[1] | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Michael Whitaker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1961-10-26)October 26, 1961 (age 64) Florida, U.S. |
| Education | Florida State University (BS) |
Bryan Keith Bedford (born October 26, 1961) is an American business executive who is the administrator of theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA). Before becoming administrator, Bedford served as the chief executive ofRepublic Airways Holdings from 1999 to 2025. In March 2025, PresidentDonald Trump nominated Bedford to serve as FAA administrator. He was confirmed by the Senate on July 9, 2025.[2]
Bryan Keith Bedford was born on October 26, 1961, inFlorida.[3] Bedford graduated fromFlorida State University with a bachelor's degree.[4]
By 1990, Bedford was a financial controller forWestAir Commuter Airlines.[5] Three years later, he had become the chief financial officer of Phoenix Airline Services. That year, he was named a principal ofChicago Express Airlines's regional service.[6]
In July 1995, Bedford became the president and chief executive ofMesaba Airlines.[4]
In June 1999, Bedford became the president, chairman, and chief executive ofChautauqua Airlines.[4] He led the airline after theSeptember 11 attacks.[7]
In July 1999,[4] Bedford became the president and chief executive ofRepublic Airways Holdings. He became chairman in August 2001.[4] In 2009, the company won a bankruptcy auction forFrontier Airlines.[8] The following year, Bedford appeared onUndercover Boss (2010–2022) as the chief executive of Frontier, announcing that he would end a ten percent pay cut.[9] According toThe Wall Street Journal, his appearance drew scrutiny from theFederal Aviation Administration.[10]
At the start of presidentDonald Trump'ssecond administration in January 2025,Michael Whitaker, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, resigned. In March,Bloomberg News reported that Bedford was a frontrunner to serve as Trump's nominee for the position.[11] On March 17, Trump named Bedford as his nominee.[12] On July 9 the US Senate voted 53-43 to confirm him to the position of FAA administrator.[13]
Bedford has opposed a rule that requires pilots to log 1,500 hours of flying before obtaining their Airline Transport Pilots License and being able to operate as a flight officer for a commercial FAA part 121 airline, lobbying against it before theHouse Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in 2014.[14][15] In 2022, theFederal Aviation Administration rejectedRepublic Airways Holdings's request to reduce required hours to 750 for pilots that trained at their in-house flight school.[16] Bedford opposes the mandatory retirement age of 65 for pilots.[15]
In August 1990, Bedford married Maria Richelle La Riche at Naples United Church of Christ inNaples, Florida.[5]