WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced Wayne R. Monteith has been appointed to the position of Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Monteith’s appointment is effective January 20, 2019.
Monteith is a proven aerospace leader with nearly 30 years of planning and managing activities to integrate Department of Defense, civil, commercial, and intelligence community space capabilities. Monteith is a recently retired US Air Force Brigadier General who previously served as the Commander, 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida and led operations for the busiest and most successful spaceport in the world.
“Ensuring America remains a leader in commercial space is a priority for President Trump, Vice President Pence, and the entire Administration,” said FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell. “General Monteith is a proven leader with extensive experience who will help us accelerate innovation while protecting public safety.”
In his new role, Monteith will provide executive leadership and oversight of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST). AST’s mission is to ensure the protection of the public, property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States during commercial launch or reentry activities, and to encourage, facilitate, and promote U.S. commercial space transportation.
“The commercial space sector is growing exponentially every year, and the FAA is committed to keeping pace with it,” said Elwell. “I’m pleased to welcome General Monteith to our team, and I look forward to working with him to ensure we remain on the cutting edge of this burgeoning industry.”
Monteith’s distinguished military career and extensive space background also included serving as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. He also held the position of Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (Space) and oversaw space policy, strategy, international engagement, and commercial partnerships while directly influencing a $100 billion budget. Prior to that, Monteith was Commander 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. Monteith received a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Washington, DC, and a Master of Science for Business Administration and Management at Leslie University, Cambridge, MA. Monteith received his undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico.
