David Boulter was selected as the Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in August 2023. He had held the position in an acting role since June 2022. In this capacity, he leads the organization responsible for setting, overseeing, and enforcing safety standards for all aspects of the aviation industry—airlines, manufacturers, repair stations, advanced air mobility, uncrewed aircraft systems, and aviation professionals. Aviation Safety (AVS) programs have a direct impact on every facet of domestic and international civil aviation safety and are carried out by over 7,600 aviation professionals located throughout the world. The organization's annual budget is more than $1.8 billion.
Mr. Boulter’s previous position was the Executive Director of the AVS Flight Standards Service. In this role, he served as the key advisor to the Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety on the oversight of operations in the National Airspace System. He lead the Flight Standards Service in the development of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) and associated standards and guidance governing the operations and maintenance of all civil aircraft in the United States.
Mr. Boulter began his career in Flight Standards in 1997 as an Aviation Safety Inspector with the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office. Throughout his FAA career, he held many roles including pilot, check airman, 14 CFR Part 119 management in multiple legacy flight programs, and Senior FAA Representative/Senior Foreign Affairs Specialist in Afghanistan. He served as the Assistant Manager and Director of Operations for the Flight Standards Flight Program, and the Flight Program Manager and Director of Operations for the Washington Flight Program based at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. He rejoined Flight Standards after serving in his most recent leadership role as the Agency’s Flight Program Executive and Vice President of Flight Program Operations for the FAA Air Traffic Organization.
Prior to his career at the FAA, Mr. Boulter held various civilian aviation positions in part 121 and part 135 operations as a pilot, flight instructor, check airman, and Chief Pilot of a commuter airline. Mr. Boulter holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with CL60, BE30, EMB-110, CV24-34-44 type ratings, and he is a Certified Flight Instructor ASEL, AMEL, and Instrument.
