14 Facts About Randy Babbitt

Randy Babbitt attended the University of Georgia and the University of Miami before becoming an airline pilot.

Randy Babbitt flew for Eastern Air Lines for 25 years.

Randy Babbitt's father, "Slim" Randy Babbitt, was an airline pilot; he was one of the founding members of the Air Line Pilots Association, which has become the largest airline pilot union in the United States and Canada.

Randy Babbitt served multiple roles within ALPA, including Executive Administrator from 1987 to 1990.

In 1990 Randy Babbitt was elected President of ALPA and served for eight years in that position.

President Barack Obama formally nominated Randy Babbitt to become the FAA Administrator on March 27,2009.

Randy Babbitt's nomination was confirmed by the US Senate on May 21,2009; he was sworn in on June 1.

Randy Babbitt succeeded Robert Sturgell and Lynne Osmus, who had both served as Acting FAA Administrator since Marion Blakey's term expired in 2007.

Randy Babbitt was arrested December 3,2011, in Fairfax City, Virginia, and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Randy Babbitt was about 9 miles from his Reston, Virginia home when an officer alleged that he drove on the wrong side of the road.

The day the press release was published, Randy Babbitt requested a leave of absence, which Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood granted.

Randy Babbitt's drunk driving charge was dismissed May 10,2012, after a Fairfax City judge found that the arresting officer had no good reason, only a "mere hunch," for pulling Randy Babbitt over.

Randy Babbitt's lawyer challenged the methodology of the alcohol breath test.

Randy Babbitt was later hired in October 2012 as Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Labor Relations.