Indian American oversees US regional aviation ops

An Indian American has been named to a key leadership position in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responsible for oversight and execution of operations in nine US regions.

As Executive Director for Regions and Centre Operations (ARC) at the FAA, Ravi Chaudhary, a former US Air Force officer, is also responsible for executing a $288 million operating budget and leading over 2,100 federal employees.

As second-in-command to the Deputy Assistant Administrator for ARC, he among other things looks after congressional outreach, emergency readiness, facilities management, and centralised support for the National Aerospace System.

Appointed to his present job in December 2014, Choudhary, a C-17 Pilot, completed 21 years of service at the Air Force District of Washington, Andrews Air Force base, according to his official profile.

He has also served at the Pentagon as a speechwriter and strategic planner in the Secretary of the Air Force Executive Action Group and Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Strategic Plans and Programmes.

In May last year, Chaudhary was appointed by President Barack Obama as a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

In this role, he advises 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.

Chaudhary holds a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Academy, MA in Operational Arts and Science from Air University, and an MS in Industrial Engineering from St. Mary's University as a NASA graduate fellow.

He has published numerous articles in Future Strategy, Aircraft Design, Business Transformation, and Space Operations.

Chaudhary is currently conducting research in Executive Leadership and Innovation in the Georgetown University Doctor of Liberal Studies programme.