Stephens Named NATA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, McGraw Stays on as Senior Advisor (Security)

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is pleased to announce that Alan Stephens, former FAA Flight Standards’ Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance (ACSA), has been named Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Stephens will take over as department head from John McGraw, who will continue to foster collaboration and connectivity between the Transportation Security Administration and industry in his new role as NATA Senior Advisor (Security).

Prior to joining NATA, Stephens held several key leadership positions at the FAA until his retirement in September 2021. In his role as Flight Standards’ Acting Deputy Director of the Office of ACSA, Stephens oversaw three Divisions providing oversight for 33 Part 121 Certificates.

Stephens began his career at the FAA as an Aviation Safety Inspector (Avionics) in September of 2001. Subsequently he served as Avionics MD-10/11 Partial Program Manager, providing oversight on the FedEx Part 121 Certificate; Remotely Sited Inspection Supervisor; Avionics Unit Supervisor; Supervisory Principal Avionics Inspector; Assistant Manager and then Manager of the FedEx Certificate Management Office (CMO); Associate Division Manager for the legacy Central Region; and Manager of Air Carrier C Division, Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance.

Stephens also served in enlisted and officer roles in the Tennessee Air National Guard from February of 1981 to his retirement in July of 2015.

Stephens is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as well as associate degrees in Avionics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force and Telecommunication Engineering Technology from Southwest Community College in Memphis.