Abby Smith, as the Executive Director of Policy and Plans within the Office of Policy, International Affairs, and Environment; oversees strategic planning and policy development for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). She also provides formulation of aviation policies, plans, goals, and priorities through stakeholder outreach.

Abby's responsibilities include the development of the official FAA Terminal Area Forecasts of aviation activity at over 3400 airports, and the operational performance analysis for the National Airspace System (NAS) ; conducts analyses and reviews of FAA regulatory and investment activities; delivers independent economic, quantitative and qualitative analyses, information, and tools for policy decisions involving crosscutting or novel new entrants into the NAS; and serves as the agency's focal point for business planning development and coordination as well as corporate performance management.

Ms. Smith began her career with the FAA in 1991 as an air traffic controller at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center. While in Miami, she served as a Quality Through Partnership Coordinator. She also worked as a quality assurance support specialist providing training administration and Display System Replacement implementation support.

Ms. Smith relocated to Washington, DC, in 1999 to join Air Traffic Systems Requirements as a requirements analyst. She then joined the National Transportation Safety Board in 2001 as an accident investigator where she worked on multiple investigations, including American 587. Since returning to the FAA in 2002, she has held multiple positions including Domestic Event Network Supervisor, Air Traffic Evaluations Manager, ATO Safety Management System Implementation Manager, Professional Training and Development Manager, Workforce Services Manager, AeroNav Products' Business Development Manager, Director of Aeronautical Information Services, and most recently, Director of Air Traffic Organization's Technical Training.

Ms. Smith graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and received her Master of Science degree in Dispute Resolution from Nova South Eastern University.