Gaudy Bezos-O’Connor is the Senior Technical Specialist (STS) for Electric Power Systems in the FAA’s Office of Senior Technical Experts (AIR-20). Bezos-O’Connor has over 40 years of experience in aerospace technology innovation, her expertise spanning electrified powertrain technology, propulsion, and subsonic, hypersonic, and supersonic vehicle handling qualities. She specializes in MW-Class electrified powertrain architectures and energy storage and generation, analyzing their impact on flight operations to advance sustainable aviation.

Bezos-O’Connor excels at leveraging public-private partnerships and innovative project management strategies that accelerate aircraft and engine certification. At NASA, she led key initiatives, including the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) Project, the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project, and the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project, where she planned and executed Part 25 transport category aircraft integrated ground and flight test of electrified powertrain technology maturation risk reduction efforts.

In 2019, Bezos-O’Connor served on a detail as program engineer for the FAA’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program, evaluating airframe and engine technology maturity to ensure design credibility, risk mitigation, and technical deliverables.

Bezos-O’Connor earned a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master of engineering in engineering management from Old Dominion University. She is an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) associate fellow, an International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) Programme Committee member, and chair of the ICAS Propulsion and Energy Panel 5.