Chris Wilbanks

Image

Chris Wilbanks serves as Vice President for Mission Support Services within the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. In this role, he provides executive leadership across a broad portfolio that includes strategy, international engagement, three Service Centers, ATO finance, technical labor, policy, and training. Mission Support plays a critical role in advancing modernization efforts and ensuring the long-term success of the National Airspace System.

Over the course of his career, Chris has held multiple management positions in the field before advancing to senior leadership. He served as Director of Technical Labor (AJG-L), Director of Air Traffic Services Strategic Operations (AJT-2), Director of Technical Training (AJI-2), and Deputy Vice President of Safety and Technical Training, where he led critical workforce hiring and training initiatives. These experiences laid the foundation for operational knowledge, labor expertise, and organizational leadership, preparing him to take on the Mission Support Services Vice Presidency.

A passionate leader committed to discipline, strategic vision, and people development, Chris has built his career on fostering strong teams, driving accountability, and delivering results through intentional leadership. He recognizes that in today’s fast-paced, 24/7 operational environment, success depends not only on precision and structure but also on the ability to adapt—balancing stability with agility to meet evolving challenges.

Training remains a central focus of Mission Support Services, ensuring that the next generation of air traffic controllers and technical professionals are prepared to meet the demands of the system. At the same time, alignment of strategy, resources, and partnerships ensures that the organization is well-positioned to sustain both current operations and future modernization.

Outside of work, Chris channels his passion for discipline into endurance sports, particularly long-distance running. He draws inspiration from the consistency, resilience, and adaptability required in training and competition; qualities that mirror his leadership philosophy.

Chris and his wife, Crystal, an air traffic controller, share a family life centered on commitment and achievement. Their son Creighton plays college football, Cohen is an avid soccer player, and Skylar is a dedicated cheerleader, all of whom inspire Chris daily and keep him grounded in what matters most.

Hope Kubala

Image

Hope Kubala is currently the acting Vice President of ATO Safety (AJI). She brings over two decades of FAA experience to this role, beginning her career in 2002 as an Air Traffic Control Specialist at Albuquerque Center. Since then, she has held a wide range of leadership positions across the organization including Front-Line Manager, Support Manager for Training, Staff Manager, Air Traffic Manager, General Manager, Deputy Director, and Director of Air Traffic Operations Central Service Area.  Most recently in 2025, Hope completed a detail as acting AJI Deputy Vice President before stepping into the Vice President role.

A proud graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Aerospace Administration, Hope’s FAA journey has taken her from the hills of Tennessee to the deserts of the Southwest, the Arctic North, and now the starry skies of Texas. She brings with her a passion for safety, an unwavering professionalism, and a reputation for thoughtful, values-driven leadership.

Chris Hope

Image

Chris Hope is the acting Vice President of Flight Program Operations (AJF) for the FAA Air Traffic Organization, which administers the FAA Flight Program. AJF is responsible for the safe and efficient execution of a mission set including flight inspection; aviation safety training; research, development, test and evaluation support; and critical event response/transportation. 

The FAA Flight Program is certificated as a 14 CFR part 135 air operator and 14 CFR part 145 repair station and is the only major government flight program that elects to operate under civilian regulations. It was one of the first part 135 flight programs to implement a corporate Safety Management System (SMS), incorporating multiple FAA certificates.

Mr. Hope previously served as the Deputy Vice President (DVP) of AJF and was instrumental in restructuring the 14 CFR part 135 and part 145 maintenance organizations which led to the optimized alignment of specific managers with discrete functions, and his advocacy for the mission of AJF in support of the national airspace system (NAS) resulted in increased budget stability and more effective allocation of resources. 

Mr. Hope also served as Division Manager of the Flight Technologies and Procedures Division in FAA Flight Standards. He led a 185-person division with a mission to improve flight operations, standardization, and aviation safety within the US and international airspace systems in support of the FAA’s plans for NextGen through regulations, standards, and policy at the intersection of flight operations, aircraft, airspace, airports, and flight procedures. In this role, he ensured safe and efficient flight paths from takeoff to landing and provided operational safety reviews and support to the NAS.

Mr. Hope’s other leadership positions include Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Safety Standards and Group Manager of the Flight Operations Group. He also served as an Aviation Safety Inspector, worked as a Manager and Program Analyst for the FAA, and served as the former U.S. Member to the ICAO Flight Operations Panel, as well as the Rapporteur of the ICAO All Weather Operations Subgroup. Prior to joining the FAA, he was a senior Program Manager at Enterprise Information Services, Inc. and a command pilot for the US Air Force.

Mr. Hope earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from the US Air Force Academy and a Master of Arts in Business from Webster University. He completed the Harvard University Kennedy School program for Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies. Mr. Hope holds Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument certificates with ratings in the B-757, B-767, and L-382. 

RCO Service Volumes for 2,500’ and 5,000’ AGL

RCOs to be Decommissioned

RCO Decommissioning FAQs

Air Traffic Control Facilities

LaKisha A. Price

LaKisha Price currently serves as the Acting Vice President of System Operations Services within the Air Traffic Organization (ATO).

AIRS CAVS-CAS-A Op Eval Final Report

CAS-D Operational Description v3.0