ARSA on FAA’s Gilligan: An Exceptional Example
WASHINGTON – Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, issued the following statement in response to the retirement announcement by Margaret “Peggy” Gilligan. On Jan. 30, Gilligan informed the aviation community that she planned to leave her position as associate administrator for aviation safety, which she’d held since Jan. 5, 2009.
“An advantage of a long career is experiencing the growth, maturation and long-term success of others devoted to good government and public service. If you seek an exceptional example of a representative for those principles, look no further than Peggy Gilligan. From the FAA’s eastern region to the chief counsel’s office to chief of staff for four different administrators and finally serving more than 20 years in the Aviation Safety organization, she has always been an honest, forthright broker unstintingly serving her country and the flying public through shifting political crosswinds. She earned the respect of the international aviation industry and certainly has mine.
“In Peggy’s message announcing her retirement, she joked about having joined the agency before some of her staff were born. We can only hope they absorbed a smidgen of her knowledge and experience; the depth and breadth of her impact on international aviation is the result of hard work, active listening and thoughtful interaction with the industry, legislators, regulators and colleagues.
“ARSA looks forward to working with whomever will assume her role, but we all recognize that nobody can take her place. Thank you, Peggy, and best wishes.”
ARSA is the only association devoted to the unique needs of the global civil aviation maintenance industry. It is dedicated to helping member companies operate more efficiently and effectively, while continuing to ensure the safety of aircraft worldwide. To learn more about the association’s work on behalf of both industry stakeholders and the flying public, please visit ARSA.org.
