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Recorded on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 1:00pm-2:15pm EST Virtual, ON24
Join us for a conversation with the FAA's Executive Director of the Office of Environment & Energy, Kevin Welsh. Mr. Welsh leads the development of aviation environmental and energy policies, goals, and priorities, and oversees research, engineering and development projects and initiatives. In this capacity, he also represents the United States at the International Civil Aviation Organization Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection to develop recommendations for international standards and policies for aviation environment and energy issues. His passion for understanding climate change issues was demonstrated by attending COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland with Department of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg.
Moderated by Miles O’Brien, this conversation will dive into the FAA’s mission to address climate change across all airports and facilities, how the FAA will incorporate biofuels and electric into aircraft designs, and discuss the critical plans and goals for the FAA's environmental compliance.
Miles O’Brien is a veteran, independent journalist who focuses on science, technology and aerospace. He is the science correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, a producer, director, writer and correspondent for the PBS documentary programs NOVA and FRONTLINE and an aviation analyst for CNN. He owns MOBIAS Media, Inc., a production company that creates award winning documentary films primarily for PBS as well as several educational and corporate clients. For nearly seventeen of his forty years in the news business, he was a staff correspondent and anchor with CNN, based in Atlanta and New York. He served as the science, environment and aerospace correspondent and the anchor of various programs, including American Morning. While at CNN, O’Brien secured a deal with NASA to become the first journalist to fly on the space shuttle. The project ended with the loss of Columbia and her crew in 2003 – a story he told to the world in a critically acclaimed sixteen-hour marathon of live coverage. Prior to joining CNN, he worked as a reporter at television stations in St. Joseph, MO, Albany, NY, Tampa, FL and Boston. He began his television career as a desk assistant at WRC-TV in Washington, DC. O’Brien is an instrument-rated pilot and former airplane owner. His interest in aviation was sparked as a boy flying in the right seat beside his private pilot father. He has won numerous awards over the years, including six Emmys, a Peabody and a DuPont. He has produced, written and directed nine films for PBS NOVA: Mind of a Rampage Killer (2013), Manhunt Boston Bombers (2013), Megastorm Aftermath (2013), Why Planes Vanish (2014), Nuclear Meltdown Disaster (2015), Fifteen Years of Terror (2016), The Nuclear Option (2017), Inside the Megafire (2019) and The Great Electric Airplane Race (2021). He also produced, wrote and directed FRONTLINE Coronavirus Pandemic (2020) and was a writer and correspondent for four FRONTLINES: Flying Cheap (2010), Flying Cheaper (2011), Nuclear Aftershocks (2012) and Dollars and Dentists (2012). In February of 2014, a heavy equipment case fell on his forearm while he was on assignment. He developed Acute Compartment Syndrome, which necessitated the emergency amputation of his left arm above the elbow. Despite the loss of his arm, he has completed two marathons, several ultra-distance bike rides, a half Ironman, and has returned to flying airplanes. Born in Detroit and raised in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, he is based in Vero Beach, Florida. He was a history major at Georgetown University. Miles has two grown children. His son is a US Navy Lieutenant stationed in Catania, Italy and his daughter is a social worker in New York City.
Kevin Welsh is the Executive Director of the Office of Environment & Energy at the Federal Aviation Administration. In this role, he leads the development of aviation environmental and energy policies, goals, and priorities, and oversees research, engineering and development projects and initiatives. In this capacity, he also represents the United States at the International Civil Aviation Organization Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection to develop recommendations for international standards and policies for aviation environment and energy issues. Prior to assuming his current position in November 2017, Kevin held several roles within the United States Government working on aviation, environment, and energy issues, including serving for two years as a Director at the National Security Council in the White House. Kevin also previously worked in FAA's Office of Environment & Energy as Senior International Advisor, where he led the development of FAA's international environmental strategy and coordinated U.S. engagement in the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection. Prior to joining the federal government, Kevin was a member of the Environmental Affairs team at Airlines for America where he represented U.S. airlines in addressing environmental laws and policies related to aircraft noise, climate change, local air quality and sustainability. Kevin began his career as an associate attorney in the real estate and environmental practice of the Paul Hastings law firm. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University and a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
