Senate to hold confirmation hearing for FAA chief

The Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for interim Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta next week.

Huerta assumed the helm of the agency in last December following the drunken-driving arrest and resignation of Obama's first aviation chief Randy Babbitt.

The charges against Babbitt were later dropped, but Obama appointed Huerta to a full five-year term in March after he finished Babbitt's term.

Huerta served as assistant FAA administrator under Babbitt, who is a former pilot, but did not come to the agency with an aviation background.

Prior to being appointed to the FAA in 2010, Huerta worked at a technology company called Affiliated Computer Services. He served as commissioner of New York City's Department of Ports, International Trade and Commerce in the 1980s and was executive director of the Port of San Francisco from 1989 to 1993.

Huerta also served in the Transportation Department under former President Clinton and was managing director of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, where he worked under 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

His confirmation will be considered by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on June 21.

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