Dr. Thomas Van Dillen has been with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since July of 2021. He serves as the FAA Aerospace Human Factors Air Traffic Branch Manager (AAM-520) within the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI).  His primary duties are to oversee the integrated research of the National Airspace System (NAS) Human Factors Safety Research Laboratory.

The scope of AAM-520 research includes optimization of air traffic control and technical operations workforces, automation and controller performance, NAS technology integration, human factors in error mitigation and improved safety, and controller and technician selection, placement, and training.

Before coming to the FAA, Dr. Van Dillen was the Command Psychologist at the Headquarters of the Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) since July 2016. Prior to this work, Dr. Van Dillen practiced at various medical treatment facilities evaluating our war wounded, managing various clinical services and programs, and providing consultative oversight on developing clinical and research programs within the military, private industry, and academia.

Dr. Van Dillen’s formal training is as a Clinical and Research Psychologist with specialties in Neuropsychology, Traumatology, and Psychopharmacology. He also has held numerous teaching positions at the Associate Clinical/Research Professor level, is a licensed psychologist in Virginia, and has been practicing for 31 years.  Dr. Van Dillen has received numerous awards acknowledging his clinical, research, and academic achievements.