James W. Whitlow was appointed as the FAA’s Deputy Chief Counsel in September 1997. As Deputy Chief Counsel, he assists the Chief Counsel in overseeing all aspects of the FAA’s legal activities, including the agency’s regulatory program, administrative and judicial litigation, nationwide enforcement activities, legislation, and legal relations with foreign civil aviation authorities. Along with the Chief Counsel, he is responsible for providing extensive legal support for the FAA’s multi-billion dollar procurement program, its airports program, and ethics compliance.
In September 1976, Whitlow was appointed as a Staff Attorney in the General Law Branch of the General Legal Services Division of the FAA Office of Chief Counsel. He served in that capacity until September 1978, when he became a Staff Attorney in the Personnel and Labor Law Branch of that Division. From June 1983 until November 1990, Whitlow served as Manager of the Personnel and Labor Law Branch. From November 1990 until assuming his duties as Deputy Chief Counsel, Whitlow served as FAA Assistant Chief Counsel for the General Legal Services Division.
Whitlow is a graduate of Columbia University (B.A., Political Science 1973) and its School of Law (J.D. 1976), and is a member of the Bar of the State of New York. In 1982, Whitlow was the recipient of the Lawrence R. Schneider Award, and in 2001, he was named the Federal Bar Association Transportation Lawyer of the Year.