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Hundreds of FAA people worked to improve security and restore aviation,
so important to our nation's economy and our quality of life. Here are some of their portraits.
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On Sept. 11, 2001, FAA controllers quickly and efficiently brought down 4,500 aircraft. And, on that day that saw so much destruction and loss of life, an infant in Houston was struggling for life. (MORE)
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Fran Lozito's adult life has been in aviation security. First, she was one of the elite Federal Air Marshals, then a principal security inspector to the airlines, and, for the past three years, manager of Air Carrier Operations. (MORE)
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It started out as a routine Tuesday morning with Acting Deputy Administrator Monte Belger attending the Administrator's 8:00 a.m. meeting on air traffic issues with Bill Peacock, air traffic service director, and Jeff Griffith, deputy director. (MORE)
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When President Bush ordered the deployment of the National Guard to U.S. airports, FAA security turned to Miami and FAA senior representative to Latin America Ruben Quiñones. His background of 40 years of military and civil aviation experience made him the ideal choice to coordinate the effort. (MORE)
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"I really didn't know what I was getting into when I volunteered," said Therese Boyd, "but would I do it all over again - absolutely. This is what it means to me to be a public servant." (MORE)
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Eric West was the FAA accident investigator whose name was next on the rotation on Sept. 11, 2001. He drove to New York City on Sept. 12 and reported to the FBI command center the following morning. He was to stay in New York as the FAA's liaison to the FBI for the next 18 days. Here are excerpts from an e-mail he sent his FAA colleagues on Sept. 24. (MORE)
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In September, Alaska's tourist season is winding down. The last of the backcountry tours is concluding. Lodge owners are packing up and closing camp. Wildlife biologists, survey crews, moose hunters and fishers await the aircraft that will bring them home. (MORE)
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Jesse McKie, 22-year Air Force veteran, was one of two operations officers working the 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. shift on Sept. 11, 2001, in the FAA's Washington, DC operations center. (MORE)
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Helen Kish had no idea that the September 11 terrorist attacks would turn her into insurance underwriter and service representative, much less that FAA would create an insurance company and issue 80 policies! Later dubbed "FAA Aviation Insurance Company," Kish and her colleagues prevented the grounding of the commercial aviation fleet. (MORE)
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It was after 6:00 a.m. the next morning when the enormity of the attacks really hit. Hector Ramirez had finished a nearly 24-hour shift at headquarters, and was returning to his hotel for much needed rest. (MORE)
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Mel Freedman was directed to dispatch inspectors "to downtown"-to the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan-shortly after the first tower was hit. (MORE)
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Pat Beam's office, Air Traffic Publications, produces publications for air traffic controllers and pilots. The usual publication cycles are monthly as well as two or three times a year. (MORE)
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Jeff Gardlin, aerospace engineer in Seattle, makes airplanes safer. On Sept. 11, 2001, Gardlin was on his way to a meeting on aircraft seats and restraints when he learned about the attacks. (MORE)
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Manager James T. Whitehead, Jr, was five minutes from the Western-Pacific Operations Center when he heard the news of the first aircraft hitting the World Trade Center. His question to Operations Officer Bruce Nelson was, "What was the weather?" Nelson answered, "Crystal clear." Whitehead's response, "Terrorists." (MORE)
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Brenda Smith, an investigator in Oklahoma City, feels good about the work she did for FAA following the terrorist attacks. "Maybe what I have done has helped prevent another attack on our country. (MORE)
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Hundreds of FAA people worked to improve security and restore civil aviation after the skies were closed on Sept. 11, 2001. Here are some of their portraits.
Week of September 2
Week of September 9
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