Alexandria, VA, September 20, 2010 - The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is pleased to announce the selection of James J. Ballough, former director of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Flight Standards Service, as the newest member of the ACSF Board of Governors.
Ballough is a 40-year veteran of the aviation community and has aeronautical aviation experience as a government regulator and industry aviation professional. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and studied at Harvard University-Kennedy School of Government. He retired from the federal government after a distinguished career spanning 27 years - 24 of those years were with the FAA. Currently, Ballough is the president of JBallough Global Aviation Solutions, LLC.
During his career at the FAA, he served as a senior advisor to the associate administrator for aviation safety. He most notably served as the director of the FAA's Flight Standards Service from December 2001 to December 2008. That organization of 5000 employees is responsible for promoting the safety of flight for civil aircraft by setting regulations and standards for air carriers, air agencies, general aviation, airmen, and designees. The Flight Standards Service also is responsible for the certification, inspection, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement of the Federal Aviation Regulations and manages the aircraft and airmen official registry system.
Before his appointment as director of flight standards, Ballough held various positions in the FAA including manager, aircraft maintenance division, eastern region division manager, division manager, assistant division manager, and technical branch manager. He has built a reputation of integrity and professionalism throughout the FAA and within the airline industry by using a real-world approach to problem solving and a deep well of experience to meet the challenges of this fast-paced, high-pressure industry.
"Jim is widely respected in the aviation world," said ACSF Executive Director Bryan Burns. "He brings an enormous amount of experience as a former director of flight standards for the FAA. His knowledge of flight standards, regulations, and enforcement is second to none. We are very fortunate to have him on the Air Charter Safety Foundation Board of Governors."
Ballough has been recognized by many industry and governmental organizations. Some of his achievements include being a recipient of the 2009 Republic of Korea Minister of Land, Transportation and Maritime Award for "Excellence in Aviation," the 2008 National Air Transportation Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2008 FAA Champion for Safety Award.
Commenting on Ballough's joining the ACSF Board of Governors, ACSF Chairman Jim Christiansen said, "Jim is recognized throughout the aviation industry for his legendary focus on and commitment to aviation safety. Jim's talents and expertise, long recognized and acknowledged by his peers throughout the industry, will help the ACSF meet its objectives of heightening safety awareness and raising the safety bar for all charter operators. We're all looking forward to working with Jim and tapping that huge store of knowledge that he has developed during his distinguished career."
