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Pictured: Melissa McCaffrey and Lynda Tran. Archer Aviation is heading to D.C., bolstering its government relations efforts with a new office in the city. The eVTOL maker announced the strategic move on Thursday, sharing the leadership roles at the new office.
Former acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen, who currently serves as Archer's Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer, is leading the government affairs effort. The former Director of Police and Government Affairs at Overair, Melissa McCaffrey, will be playing a critical role as the Head of Government Affairs, State and Local. Lynda Tran recently joined the team from her position as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Director of Public Engagement at the U.S. DOT. The new office is located at 500 L'Enfant Plaza near the FAA and DOT headquarters and will support the company as it grows government relations efforts. The new office will include a display area to showcase Archer's next-gen electronic aviation technology to visiting policymakers and world leaders.RELATED STORY:Outgoing FAA leader takes new role at Archer Aviation
"This strategic move is part of our proactive approach to progressing through the regulatory process here in the U.S. as efficiently as possible so that we can help ensure our country continues to define the future of global aviation," Nolen said. "Showcasing our leading eVTOL aircraft technologies to leaders in the nation's capital will help bring to life our vision to transform cities by reducing traffic with safe, quiet electric air taxis."
Before joining Archer, in her role at Overair McCaffrey headed the company's government relations and policy strategy by advocating at all levels of government for key positions on policies and regulations, supporting the advanced air mobility industry. Before her time with Overair, McCaffrey spent over a decade at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, holding roles of increasing responsibility in her tenure. Her last role at the AOPA was managing their government affairs policy and advocacy. McCaffrey has a B.S. in Air Traffic Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has been a licensed pilot for over 20 years.
Archer is utilizing Invariant, led by Heather Podesta, along with JTR Strategies, led by Jenny Rosenberg, to lobby on key federal issues relating to commercializing the AAM industry. Invariant is the largest women-owned government relations firm in the nation and is headquartered in D.C. Before founding JTR Strategies, Rosenberg spent over a decade in senior-level policy and public affairs positions, including at the DOT as Acting Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs and as an Assistant Administrator at the FAA. She is an alum of the Senate Commerce and Appropriations Committee and the House Oversight Committee.RELATED STORIES:Archer, Joby progress toward FAA certificationArcher's Midnight eVTOL completes Phase 1 flight testing
After advancing in the regulatory process for the Midnight aircraft, Archer is making a move to Washington. In February Archer announced it had received a Part 145 Repair Station Certificate from the FAA, allowing the company to perform select maintenance activities on aircraft. This followed the completion of the Midnight eVTOL's Phase 1 flight testing. Archer aims to transform urban travel by replacing the 60-90 minute commute by car with a roughly 10-20 minute air taxi flight. The new mode of travel offers a safer, more sustainable, lower noise option that is cost-competitive with ground transportation.