Randy Babbitt served multiple roles within ALPA, including Executive Administrator from 1987 to 1990. In 1990 Babbitt was elected President of ALPA and served for eight years in that position. After leaving ALPA, Babbitt formed an airline management and financial consulting firm in
Reston, Virginia,
Eclat Consulting. In September 2007 the personnel of this company were merged into the Aircraft Management division of
Oliver Wyman.
Federal Aviation Administration During the Clinton Administration, President
Bill Clinton appointed Babbitt to the FAA Management Advisory Council. While in that capacity Babbitt sat on an independent review panel advising the government on aviation safety policy. President
Barack Obama formally nominated Babbitt to become the FAA Administrator on March 27, 2009. Babbitt's nomination was confirmed by the
US Senate on May 21, 2009; he was sworn in on June 1. Babbitt succeeded
Robert Sturgell and
Lynne Osmus, who had both served as Acting FAA Administrator since
Marion Blakey's term expired in 2007. Babbitt's FAA term was five years.
Drunk driving arrest and resignation Babbitt was arrested December 3, 2011, in
Fairfax City, Virginia, and charged with
driving under the influence of alcohol. Babbitt was about 9 miles from his
Reston, Virginia home when an officer alleged that he drove on the wrong side of the road. Fairfax police issued a press release December 5, in accordance with a department policy of announcing arrests of public officials.
Obama administration officials did not learn about the arrest until they saw the press release. The day the press release was published, Babbitt requested a leave of absence, which Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood granted.
Michael Huerta, Babbitt's deputy, immediately took Babbitt's responsibilities. Babbitt resigned as FAA administrator the next day, December 6. 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 Babbitt over. A video of the arrest played in court showed that Babbitt had not, in fact, driven in the wrong direction. Babbitt's lawyer challenged the methodology of the alcohol breath test. An initial test showed a .07% blood-alcohol level, which is below the legal limit. The officer then tested Babbitt again until he got a .08% reading—something police are not allowed to do. After the dismissal, Babbitt said he planned to work in aviation consulting.
Later career He was later hired in October 2012 as
Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Labor Relations. On August 23, 2016, he announced his retirement from Southwest. ==References==