Raquel Girvin

Western-Pacific Region Regional Administrator

Raquel Girvin was appointed Regional Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Western-Pacific Region in December 2018. Raquel serves as the principal executive representative of the FAA Administrator and the senior FAA official in the region. Western-Pacific Region encompasses the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Raquel has thirty years of multi-disciplinary experience in aviation. 

Raquel provides corporate leadership in cross-organizational matters and represents the FAA with industry, the public and governmental organizations. At the time of her appointment, she managed programs in the Office of Aviation Safety’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP). 

From 2013 to 2018, Raquel served as Deputy Director for Policy and Planning (APO) at FAA Headquarters in Washington, DC, where she advanced a wide-ranging portfolio of projects and crosscutting policy issues such as FAA Reauthorization, NextGen implementation, and integration of new users in the NAS. In 2016, she served as senior advisor to the Director of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office on international issues. Raquel joined the FAA in 2007 as Manager of the FAA’s Noise Division in the Office of Environment and Energy in Washington DC. 

Prior to federal service, Raquel worked in the commercial aerospace industry as an advanced design aerodynamics and propulsion engineer at Boeing-Southern California, and McDonnell Douglas Corporation. She also performed airfoil research at NASA Langley Research Center. 

Raquel holds a Ph.D. in the inter-disciplinary field of Transportation Science from the University of California, Irvine. She completed her dissertation on an economic analysis of aviation noise regulations. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics from George Washington University.

Kerry B. Long

Mr. Long is the Regional Administrator for the Alaskan Region. Prior to joining the ARC senior management team, he served as the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Designated Agency Ethics Official, responsible for establishing, maintaining, and carrying out the NTSB ethics program. Mr. Long is no stranger to the FAA, having previously served, by Presidential appointment, as Chief Counsel from 2007 to 2009. As Chief Counsel, he led 270 lawyers and staff and was responsible for all aspects of the agency's legal workings, including its regulatory program, administrative and judicial litigation, nationwide enforcement activities, legislation, alternative dispute resolution, ethics compliance, and legal relations with foreign civil aviation authorities.

Mr. Long served as a partner in the Washington law office of Fulbright and Jaworski L.L.P. beginning in 2001, focusing his practice on aircraft finance. He also served as an associate and partner at Perkins Coie L.L.P. in Washington from 1985 to 2000, also focusing on aircraft finance. He began his legal career as a corporate associate at White and Case L.L. P. in New York from 1980 to 1985.

Mr. Long received his law degree magna cum laude from Cornell Law School in 1980, and his bachelor's degree in political science from Colgate University in 1972.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Long served in the U.S. Navy aboard the frigate USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092) as a division officer and navigator. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. Mr. Long was recognized for his role in the rescue efforts following the collision of USS Belknap (CG-26) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in the Mediterranean Sea in 1975.

John Speckin

John Speckin is the Deputy Regional Administrator for the FAA's Central Region encompassing the four States of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Mr. Speckin provides leadership for FAA programs including national initiatives on Airport Obstructions Standards, Succession Planning for the Regions & Center Operations, and Optimization, and works directly with aviation stakeholders, airport authorities, local and state government, and Members of Congress.

Mr. Speckin also served as the Aviation Logistics Organization (ALO) Acting Director where he provided executive oversight of the FAA's real and personal property assets. In that capacity, he assumed oversight for over 267,000 assets and a motor fleet of over 4,400 GSA and 218 FAA owned vehicles, 3,500 leases and led DOT's real property asset management with 62,000 assets. ALO also manages over 1.5 million square feet of administrative space and provides office design and construction.

Mr. Speckin began his career with FAA as an engineer in 1989, and was selected as the FAA's Regional St. Louis Program Manager in 1996 over the $2.6 billion expansion of the Lambert - St. Louis International Airport, integrating both FAA and Airport activities required to commission the new runway and other airfield improvements. In 2001, he was selected as the Terminal Planning Account Manager position with the Air Traffic Organization, where Mr. Speckin provided both tactical and strategic planning for all Central Region Terminal facilities. As Account Manager, Mr. Speckin's work involved national planning initiatives, development of sustainment models for ATCTs and TRACONs, and planning for NextGen control facilities including the larger East coast facilities. In 2007, he was selected for his current position as the Deputy Regional Manager, Central Region.

Mr. Speckin is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia, holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Kansas.

Maria N. Stanco

Maria Stanco is the Deputy Regional Administrator for FAA's Eastern Region. Her previous position was as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Regional Administrator. Maria came to the FAA in 2001 working on environmental issues, serving as the Environmental Program Manager for FAA Eastern Region Airports Division. Prior to coming to FAA, Maria spent eleven years at the Environmental Protection Agency in a variety of positions including, redeveloping Brownfield sites, coordinating regional compliance strategies and as an environmental scientist preparing air quality permits. While at EPA, Maria was awarded six EPA bronze medals for her work on several interagency workgroups. Maria has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, from Mount Holyoke College and a Master's Degree in Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Terry L. Biggio

Terry Biggio was appointed the Federal Aviation Administration's Southwest Regional Administrator in January 2018. He previously served in various leadership roles within the Air Traffic Organization, including as the Vice President of Safety and Technical Training, Vice President of Air Traffic Services, Vice President of Terminal Services, and Deputy Vice President for En Route Services.

Terry began his FAA career as an air traffic controller in 1981 at Minneapolis Center. A native of Long Island and second-generation air traffic controller, he progressed from the controller ranks at both Minneapolis and Boston Centers to roles as the Acting Air Traffic Manager at Boston Center and Air Traffic Manager at Atlanta Center.

In 2007, Terry represented the FAA on a one-year detail as the Senior Aviation Advisor, United States Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq. In this role, he provided leadership to the Aviation Team while serving as the principal aviation subject matter expert. Terry worked closely with the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority Director General by providing support in tactical and operational planning. Terry helped lead the effort to transition airports and airspace from United States military to Iraqi civilian control.

Terry has also served as a FAA Academy Instructor for En Route, as well as a Course Manager and Program Manager, while at the Academy. Terry's additional FAA management positions include Front Line Manager, Support Manager for Quality Assurance, Support Manager for Airspace and Procedures, Operations Manager, and Assistant Air Traffic Manager. While serving as an Operations Manager at Boston Center, Terry was the Operation's Manager-in-Charge on 9/11.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management and a Master of Science Degree in Applied Management. Terry is also a certified Private Pilot.

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Rebecca MacPherson

Great Lakes Region Regional Administrator

Rebecca MacPherson is the Regional Administrator for the Great Lakes Region. She was appointed on January 8, 2018. As Regional Administrator, MacPherson serves as the principal executive representative of the FAA Administrator in the region, providing corporate leadership in cross-organizational matters and represents the FAA with industry, the public and governmental organizations. The Great Lakes Region encompasses the geographical area of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

From 2013 through 2017, MacPherson worked as a transportation attorney, first as of counsel at Jones Day and then as the principal at Rebecca B. MacPherson, Attorney at Law, PLLC. She specialized in advising clients on the impact of Federal transportation regulations on day-to-day operations, including compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations, hazardous materials regulations, airport slots, and citizenship determinations. She made guest appearances on National Public Radio's The Diane Rehm Show and Marketplace, as well as CNBC, to discuss the impact of FAA initiatives on unmanned aerial vehicles. She authored the chapter "The FAA's Certification and Regulatory Scheme for U.S. and Foreign Air Carriers" in the 2014 publication Aviation Regulation in the United States.

MacPherson served as the FAA's Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations from 2004 to 2013, where she was responsible for providing legal and policy guidance to senior FAA officials on matters associated with the development of regulations governing all aspects of aviation, as well as overseeing the drafting of new and amended regulations and the day-to-day implementation of existing standards and regulations. MacPherson routinely represented the FAA's interests before the White House and Congress. In 2012, her portfolio was expanded to include legal oversight of the FAA's international and legislative programs and initiatives.

Prior to joining the FAA, MacPherson was a regulatory attorney at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a trial attorney at the U.S. Maritime Administration. She graduated cum laude from Tulane School of Law in 1990 and magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree from Loyola University in 1986.

MacPherson is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars. She is a two-time recipient of the Secretary of Transportation's Gold Medal; she was named the Federal Bar Association's Transportation Attorney of the Year for 2008 and was awarded the Department of Transportation's Schneider Award for 1995.

Marie Kennington-Gardiner

Regional Administrator, Eastern Region

Marie Kennington-Gardiner became the Regional Administrator for the Eastern Region in August of 2021. Previously, she served as the Acting Regional Administrator beginning in May 2021 and in 2017.

The Eastern Region encompasses the geographical area that includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The Region oversees operations at some of the world's busiest airports including, JFK International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Newark International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

Kennington-Gardiner also served as the Director of the New York Area Program Integration Office for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As Director, she coordinated, integrated and monitored regional airspace issues, projects and initiatives to address congestion and delays in New York.

Prior to this position, she served as Director of the Lower Manhattan Recovery Office to coordinate federal emergency transit investments following the 9-11 terror attacks. She was responsible for providing oversight of $4.5 billion in support of post 9/11 infrastructure establishment or replacement activities.

Kennington-Gardiner has over twenty years of experience working for the FAA. She started with the agency in 1991 as an electronics engineer leading implementation efforts for numerous surveillance and weather radar installations throughout the FAA's Eastern Region. The blend of academic and practical skills she secured while in the field provided an opportunity for her to progress to General Engineer for larger Agency Projects and Programs prior to her stint with the Federal Transit Administration where she served as an Account Manager for the East Coast defining and prioritizing major federal infrastructure investments. These experiences led her to the most challenging positions of her FAA tenure. In her current position she provides corporate oversight for all projects and initiatives associated with delay reduction for the largest airports in the New York Metro Area.

As a graduate of Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY, Kennington-Gardiner holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree. She is also the recipient of a Master of Science, Management of Technology from NYU Polytechnic University.

Dennis Roberts

Dennis Roberts is the Regional Administrator for the Western-Pacific Region. Roberts serves as the principal executive representative of the FAA Administrator and the senior FAA official in the region. Western-Pacific Region encompasses the geographical area of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada; and U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Roberts is a member of the FAA's Senior Executive Service (SES).

Dennis Roberts provides corporate leadership in cross-organizational matters and represents the FAA with industry, the public and governmental organizations. Roberts was appointed on February 5, 2017. At the time of his appointment, he was the Regional Administrator for FAA's Southern Region, responsible for nine southeastern states, U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands along with the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Eastern Service Area.

In 2010, Roberts served as Director, Airspace Services for the ATO, Mission Support Services. He was responsible for Airspace Rules and Regulation, NAS Integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Performance-Based Navigation Procedures, Obstruction Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis and Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in Metropolitan Areas (Metroplex).

Previously, Roberts was Director, Office of Flight Services Program Operations in Washington, DC, responsible for delivery of Flight Service Station products in the lower 49 states and Puerto Rico through a performance-based contract; one of the government's largest A-76 outsourced programs. Additionally, he led FAA's in-house delivery of all flight services across Alaska.

In 2006, Roberts served as Regional Administrator for the Northwest Mountain Region. His responsibilities included seven states and the ATO Western Service Area.

Upon joining the FAA in 2004, Roberts was Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming in Washington, DC. He also served as the FAA lead for the Joint Planning and Development Office Airport Integrated Product Team.

Prior to his federal service, Roberts served as Deputy Executive Director, Louisville, KY Regional Airport Authority and had executive management responsibility for Louisville International and Bowman Field airports. Previous employment included Vice-President/Executive Director, Government and Technical Affairs, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Executive Director, Colorado DOT-Division of Aeronautics; Director, Regional Aviation Planning, Denver Regional Council of Governments; and Program Manager/Senior Planner for several aviation consulting firms.

Roberts is an instrument-rated, commercial pilot and a native of Excelsior Springs, Missouri. He holds a bachelor's degree in aviation management and a master's degree in aviation safety from Central Missouri State University.

The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and FAA Partnership

NASAO represents the state government aviation agencies who serve the public interest in all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. It encourages cooperation and mutual aid across local, state, and federal governments in development of air transportation systems.

NASAO Member Agencies

• Coordinate state laws, regulations and programs with those of the federal government, developing uniformity among the states.
• Organize, promote and fund aviation programs across the nation.
• Develop statewide aviation system and capital improvement plans.
• Invest in planning, operations, infrastructure development, maintenance and navigational aids at 5,000 airports across the country.
• Sponsor airport symposiums, pilot safety seminars and aviation education forums.

NASAO and FAA

Share the goals of encouraging and advancing aviation through cooperation and coordination across governments while remaining responsive to customer needs, economic conditions and environmental concerns. The long-term partnership formed in 1996 continues to help foster the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

• NASAO and FAA hold annual intergovernmental sessions to coordinate aviation resources and address mutual concerns.
• Separate Memorandums of Understanding between NASAO and the FAA are established as needed to address specific issues; such as, Aviation and Space Education Outreach (2009), Instrument Approach Procedures (2008), and the Future of Navigational Aids (2008).

FAA Executive Representative: Joe Miniace, Regional Administrator, Central Region, (816) 329-3050.

Related Links

• NextGEN
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• NASAO Webpage
• FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
• FAA Aviation & Space Education (AVSED) Program
• FAA Runway Safety Program
• FAA State Block Grant Program
• State Aviation Offices