Executive Director, AOV-1 (Acting)

Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service

Tony Schneider is the Executive Director of the Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service (AOV), responsible for directing the independent, risk-based, data-driven safety oversight of air navigation services. He is the principal agency advisor to the FAA Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety for all Air Traffic Organization (ATO) safety-related issues and represents the FAA in dealings with high-level officials, inside and outside of the agency, both nationally and internationally. Mr. Schneider also serves as a liaison to Congress, the Department of Defense, other Federal agencies, commercial and general aviation organizations, and civic and private groups on a wide variety of technical and managerial issues relating to the safety standards for air traffic control and air traffic infrastructure, facilities and systems.

Prior to assuming leadership of AOV in May 2022, Mr. Schneider served as the Director of Safety in the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization Safety and Technical Training Service Unit. He oversaw the Voluntary Safety Reporting, Quality Assurance, Compliance Services, Runway Safety, Safety Services, and Office of Litigation and FOIA Groups. In this role, he led an exceptional team of Safety Professionals in providing safety products and services to over 500 air traffic control and technical operation locations.

Mr. Schneider began his federal career in 1986 as an Air Traffic Controller at Jacksonville Center. He also served as an Operations Supervisor, Operations Manager, Support Manager for Airspace and Procedures, Quality Assurance Manager, Program Manager of the O'Hare Modernization Program, Central Service Center Quality Control and Operations Support Group Manager, and Senior Advisor. He recently worked in the Emerging Technology Directorate and was part of the team that implemented the FAA’s Small UAS Rule.

Mr. Schneider holds a Bachelor’s degree in Airway Science with a concentration in computers and a Master’s degree in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Tony is a member of the Federal Executive Institutes Alumni Association, and the FAA Managers Association.