other non-pilots...but he does have experience running airport operations...and doing the job very well. Mr. Washington also rose to the E-9 level in the Army described as...
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Command Sergeant Major (E-9)
Enlisted soldiers who attain the distinction of being selected by the Department of the Army for participation in the command sergeants major program are the epitome of success in their chosen field. There is no higher grade of rank, except sergeant major of the Army, for enlisted soldiers, and there is no greater honor.
The command sergeant major carries out policies and standards of the performance, training, appearance and conduct of enlisted personnel. The command sergeant major advises and initiates recommendations to the commander and staff in matters pertaining to the local NCO support channel.
Perhaps slightly wiser and more experienced than the first sergeant, the CSM is expected to function completely without supervision. Like the old sage of times past, the command sergeant major's counsel is expected to be calm, settled and unequivocally accurate, but with an energy and enthusiasm that never wanes, even in the worst of times.
Assignable to any billet in the Army, the CSM is all those things, and more, of each of the preceding grades of rank.
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Watch the full hearing in the attached link, especially the comments from Sen. Hickenlooper at the 12:20 mark....note that President Bush's FAA Administrator was formerly the head of the National Transportation Safety Board (Marion Blakey)...i.e. not a licensed pilot. This job has almost nothing to do with knowing how to fly a plane...it is a transportation industry management organization, and Phil Washington has already distinguished himself in such a capacity.
Link: https://youtu.be/ToMnYMM5Zqg