President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated Michael Huerta, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to become the official head of the agency.

“I am very pleased that President Obama has nominated him to lead the FAA as the next Administrator,” Ray LaHood, head of the Department of Transportation, the agency that oversees the FAA, said in a statement. “Michael Huerta has stepped up to the plate and done an exemplary job in leading the largest and safest aviation system in the world."

Prior to taking over the post, Huerta was leading FAA’s NextGen effort that will transition the nation’s antiquated air traffic control system to a satellite-based system.

Huerta has been running the FAA since former chief Randy Babbitt resigned in December over charges of drunken driving.

The Senate must approve Huerta’s nomination before he is officially named FAA Administrator.

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