Yes. Bryan Bedford, then Republic Airways’ president and CEO, was nominated to lead the Federal Aviation Administration in March 2025, confirmed by Congress, and sworn in as FAA Administrator in July 2025. The FAA still listed him in that role in its September 15, 2026 testimony index. The original “top candidate” wording describes a nomination story, not his current status.
How Bedford went from nominee to FAA Administrator
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 17, 2025 | The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a statement on the Trump administration’s nomination of Bedford, then Republic Airways president and CEO, to serve as FAA Administrator. Read the committee statement. |
| June 11, 2025 | The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held Bedford’s nomination hearing. Senators questioned him about FAA responsibilities, aviation safety, modernization, his industry background, and policy positions. The hearing transcript records the questions and answers; a senator’s characterization or question is not itself a finding. Read the hearing transcript. |
| July 10, 2025 | The FAA announced that Congress had confirmed Bedford and welcomed him as the new Administrator. The agency said he would work with Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on air traffic control modernization. Read the FAA announcement. |
| September 15, 2026 | The FAA’s current-official testimony index listed Bedford as Administrator and included his testimony on the fiscal year 2027 budget request. Check the FAA testimony index. |
Who is Bryan Bedford?
Bedford spent much of his career in commercial aviation leadership. The FAA describes him as an industry veteran with more than 35 years of experience and says he served 26 years as Republic Airways president and CEO. Those experience figures are the FAA’s published account. Read the FAA biography.
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The FAA says Republic grew during Bedford’s tenure from $85 million in revenue and 36 turboprop aircraft to more than $3 billion in revenue and an operating fleet of more than 250 jets. These are agency-published figures, not independently audited figures established here.
Airline and training experience
According to the FAA, Bedford led Republic’s launch of LIFT Academy in 2018, which the agency describes as the first airline-owned training academy. His earlier leadership roles included Mesaba Airlines and Business Express Airlines, and he held finance positions at Phoenix Airline Services and West Air Airlines.
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Education and pilot credentials
The FAA says Bedford holds a multi-engine, instrument-rated private pilot license and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in finance and accounting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who leads Republic Airways now?
Bedford retired as Republic Airways CEO in July 2025, according to the company. David Grizzle succeeded him, and Republic later named Matthew J. Koscal CEO effective June 15, 2026. Read Republic’s company announcement filed with the SEC.
What is known about ethics-related scrutiny?
A Senate Democratic committee press release dated April 23, 2026, says Senators Maria Cantwell, Tammy Duckworth, and Edward J. Markey asked the Department of Transportation Inspector General to investigate whether Bedford complied with his ethics agreement concerning the sale of Republic shares. The release says DOT informed the committee that Bedford completed the sale of all his Republic shares on February 20, 2026, after the deadline specified in the agreement. The senators also raised questions about potential financial benefits and Bedford’s representations.
Those statements are allegations and claims made in a partisan committee release and attached letter; they do not establish that Bedford violated an ethics agreement or that an investigation reached a particular result. The release does not report the outcome of the requested investigation. Read the committee release and letter.
What the “top candidate” headline gets wrong today
The available official record establishes that Bedford was nominated, confirmed, and sworn in; it does not establish who originally published the “top candidate” headline or the reporting behind that phrase. For a present-day account, the important distinction is that Bedford is not merely a candidate: the FAA’s latest indexed testimony listed him as Administrator, while Republic has a separate CEO.
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