FAA Strategic Initiatives 

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THE STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE 

Over the next four years, the FAA will lay the foundation for the aerospace system of the 

future. As an agency, the FAA has a tremendous opportunity to make a difference for 

stakeholders, while addressing the challenges that the changing industry presents. 

The aerospace industry is growing more complex, and is not the same industry we 

regulated in decades past. At the same time, there is more safety data than ever before. 

This provides the FAA with the opportunity to be more proactive about safety and use 

safety management principles to make smarter, risk-based decisions throughout the 

agency and with industry and global stakeholders. This will make our aviation system 

safer and smarter and raise the bar on safety. 

The nation’s air traffic system is based on infrastructure that was largely built 50 years 

ago and is out of balance with our stakeholders’ changing needs. NextGen is redefining 

the NAS and is delivering benefits to system users, such as reduced fuel costs, reduced 

delays, and reduced environmental impact. Great technological advancements require the 

FAA to safely integrate new types of user technologies, such as unmanned aircraft 

systems and commercial space vehicles, into the airspace. As we accommodate new 

services, the FAA must rationalize and rebalance existing services while modernizing our 

existing infrastructure in order to reduce costs and become more efficient in the long run. 

Aviation is also a global industry and millions of Americans travel overseas every year. 

The FAA must continue America’s heritage as world leaders in aviation and set the 

standard for others to measure against. Aviation was invented in America, but other 

nations have seen their aviation systems grow dramatically and have become 

significantly more influential on the international stage. The FAA needs to be at the table 

to shape international standards to improve aviation safety and efficiency around the 

world. 

Meeting this strategic challenge requires that the FAA harness the collective strength of 

the agency’s employees. The FAA’s people are the ultimate drivers of success, which 

means the FAA must attract and develop the best and the brightest talent with the 

appropriate leadership and technical skills to undertake this transformation. The FAA’s 

workforce is changing and is in the midst of a retirement wave, which presents both 

challenges and opportunities. There is significant work to do to set the foundation to 

empower and innovate with the FAA’s people. 

This is a bold aspiration for the FAA, and will span beyond the next four years. However, 

we are committed to seeing measurable and steadfast progress toward this vision by 

2018. The rapidly changing industry, the technological opportunities, the uncertain fiscal 

environment, an evolving workforce, and the global backdrop comprise a compelling 

case for transformational change, and that is what the FAA expects to achieve.
FAA Strategic Initiatives 

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FAA STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND PRIORITY INITIATIVES

FAA Strategic Priorities Administrator Priority Initiatives Related Sub

Make aviation safer and smarter 

Risk-Based Decision Making: Build on safety management principles to proactively address emerging safety risk by using consistent, data-informed approaches to make smarter, system-level, risk-based decisions 

 Improve standardiz

modeling integratio

 Enhance decision m Redefine oversight 

Deliver benefits through technology and infrastructure 

National Airspace System (NAS): Lay the foundation for the NAS of the future by achieving prioritized NextGen benefits, integrating new user entrants, and delivering more efficient, streamlined services 

 Focus to achieve th Integrate new user 

aircraft and comme

 Right-size the NAS 

Enhance global leadership 

Global Leadership: Improve safety, air traffic efficiency, and environmental sustainability across the globe through an integrated, data-driven approach that shapes global standards, enhances collaboration and harmonization, and better targets FAA resources and efforts 

 Transform our inte Develop an integra

approach to interna

 Ensure global inter

NextGen 

 Place international 

Empower and innovate with the FAA’s people 

Workforce of the Future: Prepare FAA’s human capital for the future, by identifying, recruiting, and training a workforce with the leadership, technical, and functional skills to ensure the U.S. has the world’s safest and most productive aviation sector 

 Leadership Develo Skills Identification  Skills Developmen Attracting Talent