Associate Administrator, Aviation Safety

Caitlin Locke serves as Associate Administrator for the FAA’s Aviation Safety Organization (AVS-1), a position she has held since June 2026.

Locke leads the office responsible for the certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of aircraft; and certification of pilots, mechanics, and others in safety-related positions.

Previously, Locke was Executive Director for Aircraft Certification Service (AIR), overseeing type certification, production approval, airworthiness certification, and continued airworthiness of the U.S. civil aircraft fleet, including both commercial and general aviation .

Before that, Locke served as Director of AIR’s Compliance & Airworthiness Division, where she managed a broad portfolio of certification and validation projects.

Earlier in her FAA career, Locke served as acting deputy executive director and chief of staff of Flight Standards. She also served as Deputy Executive Director of the Office of Rulemaking, and as a Senior Technical Advisor in AVS. Locke joined the FAA in 2008.

Locke holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Italian studies from the University of Delaware.