Phillip A. Washington
Born1958 (age 65–66)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationColumbia College Chicago (BBA)
Webster University (MM)
CEO of Denver International Airport
Assumed office
19 July 2021 (2021-07-19)
Preceded byKim Day
CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
In office
May 2015 (2015-05) – May 2021 (2021-05)
Preceded byArt Leahy
Succeeded byStephanie Wiggins
CEO of the Regional Transportation District
In office
December 2009 (2009-12) – May 2015 (2015-05)
Preceded byClarence W. Marsella
Succeeded byDave Genova
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1976–2000
RankCommand Sergeant Major
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal

Phillip A. Washington (born 1958) is an American governmental administrator working as the CEO of Denver International Airport. He was previously CEO of the Los Angeles Metro, and served as the head of president Joe Biden's transportation transition team. In July 2022 Biden nominated Washington to serve as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, but Congress delayed taking action to confirm him over concerns about his lack of expertise in the area[1][2] and Washington withdrew from the nomination on March 25, 2023.[3]

Early life and education

Washington was born in the South Side of Chicago and lived in the Altgeld Gardens Homes. When he was 17 years old, Washington was expelled from high school and decided that the best way to get away from the place was to enlist in the United States Army.[4]

After twenty-four years, he had risen to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, being stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado. During his time in the military, he got a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Columbia College Chicago and a Master of Management from Webster University. In 2000, he left the army and applied for assistant general manager of administration at the Regional Transportation District (RTD). Cal Marsella, the CEO, gave him the job.[5]

Career

Regional Transportation District

Washington began his work as assistant general manager in 2000. In June 2009, Washington was named as the interim chief after Marsella stepped down.[6] In December 2009, the RTD announced that Washington would become the next CEO after the board voted in favor of his appointment.[7][8]

Los Angeles Metro

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti and Metro board members welcome Washington.

In May 2015, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti announced that Washington would become the new CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, replacing Art Leahy.[9][10] In 2018, Washington was honored at the Los Angeles Sustainability Coalition Annual Awards Dinner for his role in the Measure M expansion.[11]

In November 2020, Washington was named Team Lead for the Joe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team for the United States Department of Transportation.[12][13] In February 2021, after informing the Metro Board not to renew or extend his contract, Washington announced he would be retiring from the post that May.[14][15]

Denver International Airport

On June 7, 2021, Denver mayor Michael Hancock nominated Washington to become the CEO of Denver International Airport, taking over the position from CEO Kim Day who was retiring after 13 years.[16][17] A few days after, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had a criminal investigation at LACMTA's offices related to a criminal investigation into Washington, which came after a Metro whistleblower's claims of corruption. The investigation was of Metro's sexual harassment hotline, which was found to cost more than $8,000 per call after "multiple no-bid contracts to run the service were awarded to Peace Over Violence, a charity led by a close friend and campaign donor of L.A. County Supervisor and Metro board member Sheila Kuehl."[18][19] Washington maintained that he was innocent and that the complaint was from a disgruntled employee, with Hancock supporting him.[20] The topic of the investigation was not discussed when the Denver City Council unanimously voted to approve Washington as the new CEO.[21][22]

FAA nomination

On July 6, 2022, President Joe Biden announced that he had nominated Washington to lead the Federal Aviation Administration.[23] His nomination stalled in the United States Senate, with some criticizing Biden's choice of Washington, who had been mentioned in a criminal probe in Los Angeles.[24][25] On March 1, 2023, Washington faced the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where he was criticized by Senator Ted Cruz, saying that he was not qualified and did "not have any experience in aviation safety."[26] He also faced a challenge due to his military status, as the statute does not allow for any retired military member to be eligible for leadership.[27] It was announced that a Senate vote on his confirmation would take place on March 22, 2023, before the vote was delayed by Senator Kyrsten Sinema after she raised some questions about him.[28] On March 25, 2023, he withdrew from the nomination.[29]

References

  1. ↑ "White House set to nominate next FAA administrator, former city transit exec Phil Washington". The Seattle Times. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  2. ↑ Alvarez, Alayna (November 30, 2022). "FAA head confirmation hearing delayed as agency leadership remains in flux". Axios. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  3. ↑ Liptak, Brian (March 25, 2023). "Biden's pick to lead the FAA withdraws from nomination". CNN.
  4. ↑ Huttenbach, Laura Lee. "PROFILE OF PHIL WASHINGTON, CEO OF LA METRO" (PDF). Routematch.
  5. ↑ Hudson, Miller (April 13, 2015). "Phil Washington — The Accidental Transit Manager". Colorado Politics.
  6. ↑ Leib, Jeffrey (June 9, 2009). "RTD's assistant GM named interim chief". The Denver Post.
  7. ↑ "Denver RTD selects Washington as next GM/CEO". Progressive Railroading. December 17, 2009.
  8. ↑ Leib, Jeffrey (December 15, 2009). "RTD veteran named CEO". The Denver Post.
  9. ↑ "METRO WELCOMES NEW CEO PHIL WASHINGTON". Paul Krekorian. May 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ "MAYOR GARCETTI ANNOUNCES PHILLIP WASHINGTON AS NEW METRO CEO". May 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington Honored at Los Angeles Sustainability Coalition Annual Awards Dinner". Los Angeles Sentinel. December 13, 2018.
  12. ↑ Linton, Joe (November 10, 2020). "Metro CEO Phil Washington Named To Biden Transition Team". Streetsblog Los Angeles.
  13. ↑ Luczak, Marybeth (November 11, 2020). "Biden-Harris Taps Washington for Transportation ART". Railway Age.
  14. ↑ "L.A. Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington to step down in May". The Source (Metro). February 3, 2021.
  15. ↑ Henry, Jason; Scauzillo, Steve (February 3, 2021). "LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington to step down in May". Los Angeles Daily News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "Mayor Hancock Nominates Phil Washington as CEO of Denver Airport". Denver. June 7, 2021.
  17. ↑ Huspeni, Dennis (June 28, 2021). "Washington touts his experience as Council begins nominee approval process". The Denver Gazette.
  18. ↑ Alvarez, Alayna (June 15, 2021). "DIA's newly named leader connected to public corruption allegations". Axios.
  19. ↑ Henry, Jason (February 19, 2021). "L.A. County sheriff searches offices of LA Metro, oversight board member in criminal probe". Los Angeles Daily News.
  20. ↑ Kovaleski, Tony (June 22, 2021). "Mayor's nominee for Denver's airport CEO: 'I've done nothing wrong'". KMGH-TV.
  21. ↑ Swanson, Conrad (July 12, 2021). "Denver City Council approves Phil Washington as next Denver airport CEO". The Denver Post.
  22. ↑ Metzger, Hannah (July 12, 2021). "Phil Washington confirmed as new CEO of Denver International Airport". The Denver Gazette.
  23. ↑ Maidenberg, Micah (July 6, 2022). "Biden Picks Denver Airport Chief to Lead Federal Aviation Administration". Wall Street Journal.
  24. ↑ Pawlyk. Oriana (September 9, 2022). "LA probe brings worries of prolonged vacancy atop FAA". Politico.
  25. ↑ Alvarez, Alayna (November 30, 2022). "FAA head confirmation hearing delayed as agency leadership remains in flux". Axios.
  26. ↑ "DIA boss Phil Washington, Biden's pick to lead FAA, faces turbulent confirmation hearing". The Colorado Sun. March 1, 2023.
  27. ↑ Yurk, Valerie (March 2, 2023). "Biden's FAA nominee faces military waiver challenge". Roll Call.
  28. ↑ Nichols, Hans (March 22, 2023). "Scoop: Sinema delays vote on FAA nominee Phil Washington". Axios.
  29. ↑ "Biden's pick to lead FAA withdraws amid shaky Senate support". NBC News. March 25, 2023.
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