Keynote Address

Speakers*

Eboni Wimbush, Airport Minority Advisory Council, Moderator
Brad Mims, Federal Aviation Administration

Overview

This session featured questions about systemic inequality addressed to the FAA Deputy Administrator from the moderator and the audience.

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^* Headshots, top to bottom: Brad Mims, Eboni Wimbush.

Detailed Summary of Keynote Discussion

Eboni Wimbush first asked Brad Mims to share a foundational story from his past that continues to influence him.

Brad Mims recounted a few stories about his prior work experiences. He reflected on his congressional internship experiences when he was a young transportation staffer. He noted “I was the only for a long time” regarding his identity as a Black man in a predominantly White workplace. In the late 1970s, Mims worked for Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was considered the father of Earth Day, in Washington, DC. Mims recalled speaking with President Joe Biden (a senator at that time) while catching the train one day. He recalled that Biden was curious, supportive, and enthusiastic that Mims was a young Black man working on Capitol Hill. In another reflection, Mims shared that he was proud of his contributions to move legislation that created the National Museum of African American History and Culture as well as the National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Finally, Mims shared that he was part of U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Secretary Rodney E. Slater’s team. Secretary Slater cultivated a diverse team, which was a sharp contrast to prior administrations. This diversity elicited an impactful emotional response in Mims when he traveled with the secretary’s team to Chile for an event related to the Chilean Open Skies Agreement. Mims recalled that he “teared up at the national anthem” as he realized that he was part of a “majority minority group traveling with a minority secretary.”

Wimbush asked Mims to describe opportunities that are available today at the federal level.

Mims stated that the FAA leadership team is probably the most diverse in the federal government right now, which is beneficial to the advancement of people of color and women in the workplace. Additionally, executive orders from the executive branch continue to improve the opportunities that are available to center the themes of equity and justice in the aviation industry. Mims went on to state that there are opportunities related to safety and air traffic control, especially under the leadership of FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolan, who Mims described as a strong safety advocate. Mims noted the $5 billion dollars in funding available for facilities and equipment that can be used to support the 30×30 Initiative (build 30 new air traffic control towers by 2030) and other facilities. Generally, Mims emphasized the broad availability of federal funding opportunities available to airports and airport authorities (including smaller and more rural airports) for terminal improvement programs and multimodal projects.

Wimbush pointed out that there are different diversity initiatives from one federal administration to the next. She asked Mims to describe strategies that could sustain equity as a priority across administrations.

Mims acknowledged that he has concerns about sustaining equity and diversity policies across administrations. As an example, he shared his personal observation that the previous federal administration dramatically reduced staffing and resources for the U.S. DOT’s Office of Civil Rights. Mims stated, “They wiped it out to the point where, when we started the transition process, folks were in tears because they finally got some attention.” He noted that he has observed a focused effort within current U.S. DOT leadership to institutionalize structures that support equity and diversity policies, such that those policies cannot be easily dismantled. The Justice40 Initiative, wherein the Biden-Harris administration is calling for at least 40% of infrastructure funds to be disseminated in a manner that supports minority groups (including contracting with minority-owned businesses), is one example of this effort.¹ Mims also stated that he views Christopher Coes, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, U.S. DOT, as a strategic and innovative thinker who is focused on implementation of the Justice40 Initiative.

An audience member asserted that Mims has been a “trailblazer for 40 years” and asked him to explain how he “manages the blowback” that comes from making hard decisions in the realm of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) work. In response, Mims reflected on his experience with the culture of air traffic controllers. He stated that since the air traffic controller workforce is not currently diverse or equitable, he has been tasked with addressing the culture and processes of recruitment and retention. Mims found that “they wash Black men and women out of the academy at much higher rates.” Among those who do transition from the academy to the workforce, they are “washed out” once they arrive at the tower facilities. When faced with backlash, Mims focuses on maintaining his resolve to persist in DEIJ work and empowers his staff to conduct the DEIJ work: “I have taken it upon myself to empower the folks in those positions—give them the authority to do what I asked them to do. I will take the heat. I don’t care. I will do what I am charged to do.”

Another audience member asked about changing what the industry looks like. This person wanted to know Mims’ perspective on the importance of creating programs that systematically combat inequity. In response, Mims pointed out that women are “terribly underrepresented.” Given the context of the upcoming pilot shortage, he agreed it was very important to create scholarships and work with institutions to support mentoring and apprenticeship programs throughout the aviation industry. Mims further directed the audience to the Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Intern Program as an example of a valuable program.²

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¹ The Justice40 Initiative aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments in climate and clean energy, including sustainable transportation, to disadvantaged communities. More information is available at https://www.transportation.gov/equity-Justice40.

² FAA. Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Intern Program. Federal Aviation Administration, 2022. https://www.faa.gov/jobs/students/internships/minority.