Regional Administrator
Northwest Mountain Region
David Suomi is currently the Regional Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Northwest Region. In this capacity, he serves as the principal representative of the FAA Administrator and the senior FAA official in the region. He provides corporate leadership in cross-organizational matters and represents the FAA before industry, the public and governmental organizations. He also serves as the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Regional Transportation Coordinator (RETCO) designated to carry out critical functions for DOT in response to disasters as documented in the National Response Framework.
Immediately prior to his current role, He served as the Deputy Regional Administrator of the Northwest Mountain Region. Prior to that, he served as the national Manager of the FAA's Airport Improvement Program, a $3.5 billion annual infrastructure grant program that aids airport owners in financing critical aviation infrastructure. The program is funded through the Aviation Trust Fund. Mr. Suomi oversaw project identification, prioritization, eligibility and ultimate grant obligation for approximately 2,500 grants annually.
Prior to his FAA roles, Mr. Suomi served in a variety of senior executive roles associated with private and public-sector aviation management positions, and has represented interests before Federal, State and local governments. He was vice president of BAA USA, Inc., the US subsidiary of BAA plc, the United Kingdom private sector airport company that owned and operated London Heathrow, as well as other major aviation facilities around the world.
Mr. Suomi is an accredited aviation professional with a record of accomplishment of increasingly responsible experience in chief executive officer and chief operating officer roles at U.S. airports, ranging from small reliever fields to large hubs, including Chicago's O'Hare and Midway Airports. His primary responsibilities included liaison with governmental (executive and Congressional) officials, Airport Improvement Program oversight, facility safety, emergency preparedness and response, security and operations, community relations, and stakeholder relations and facility development.
An accredited executive with the American Association of Airport Executives, Mr. Suomi has served as officer and/or board member in various state aviation organizations, functioned as a university instructor in Airport Development and Operations, holds a pilot certificate, has written articles and papers on airport issues, and spoken on various airport/airline subjects around the country.
Mr. Suomi received a Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and has completed graduate work at the University of Central Florida, State University of New York, University of Pennsylvania, and George Mason University.
