November 19, 2002 Blakey Fills Her Cabinet

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By Brenda Carol, Newswriter

FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey announced the following appointments by President George W. Bush to top agency posts: Robert Sturgell has been appointed Senior Counsel to the Administrator. Sturgell previously worked as a line pilot and flight operations supervisor. He will now advise the administrator on policy and management issues, as well as on the agency’s capital programs and modernization efforts. David Mandell, who previously practiced commercial litigation with a Philadelphia law firm, has been appointed Chief of Staff to the Administrator. Mandell will act as Administrator Blakey’s primary aide and advisor in the management and administration of the agency. Mandell will also serve as a key legal advisor to the administrator on many legal issues including all procurement and acquisition disputes as well as civil penalty cases. Greg Martin has been appointed Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs. Martin will be the FAA’s chief spokesperson, responsible for the strategic development and overall management of both the agency’s external and internal communications programs, media relations and Web site. David Balloff, who served in a similar role under Blakey while at the NTSB, has been appointed Assistant Administrator for Government and Industry Affairs. Balloff will be the FAA’s chief liaison to Congress.