by Dan Perkins

based on FAA release

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the recent appointment of Ann Azevedo to Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor (CSTA) for Aircraft Safety Analysis.

The FAA has sixteen Chief Scientific and Technical Advisors who play an important role in assuring that the FAA stays in the forefront of rapidly advancing aerospace technology.  They also help maintain the agency's leadership position in the world.

"What is significant about Azevedo's appointment is that this is the first time we will have a CSTA for safety risk management. This reinforces our commitment to the application of risk management principles and establishing safety priorities based on data," said  Nick Sabatini, Associate Administrator for Regulation & Certification
at the FAA.

Azevedo will report to Dave Hempe, Manager of the FAA's Aircraft Engineering Division.

In her new position, Azevedo will represent the FAA nationally and internationally at safety risk management meetings.  She will also sponsor research to advance the understanding and application of advanced risk management methodologies and tools, and participate in applying risk management principles to the analysis of incidents in order to develop safety solutions that will prevent accidents in the future.

It sounds awfully complicated to the average person, but Azevedo has an extensive background in risk analysis and management.  She has played an important role as a member of the FAA's Commercial Aviation Safety Team, which is made up of representatives from across the aviation community.  Team members come together to target and implement actions designed to lower the accident rate within commercial aviation.

Prior to joining the FAA, Azevedo's aviation career included 18 years at Pratt & Whitney, where she served in a variety of capacities. These included risk analysis of continued operational safety issues, manufacturing process optimization, and materials characterization. In 1997, she joined FAA as Risk Analysis Specialist for the Engine and Propeller Directorate. She has been the lead for engine safety analysis harmonization, for Engine Failure Recognition and Response (including the development and distribution of airline pilot training material), and for risk analysis on a wide variety of issues. She has also developed training material and has taught statistical, risk and experimental design courses for the industry and the FAA.

Azevedo credits a love for math and a physics teacher for leading her down the path that has resulted in her current position.  "I was always good at math," said Azevedo. "I had a very supportive physics teacher in high school who encouraged me to go to a technical school."

Azevedo has been recognized for excellence throughout her career.  She was recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) as Distinguished Engineer of the Year for work she did at Pratt & Whitney.  Azevedo has also been recognized for her public service.  She is the recipient of the prestigious Arthur S. Flemming Award for Excellence in Government Service (Applied Science) presented by George Washington University.

The End