Home > About DOT > Biographies of Key Officials > Andrew B. Steinberg

Last updated December 11, 2006

Andrew B. Steinberg is the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs in the Office of the Secretary.  He was nominated by President Bush, and confirmed on September 29, 2006, by the U.S. Senate following his confirmation hearing.  As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Steinberg supervises the Office of Aviation and International Affairs, with responsibility for licensing of U.S. and foreign airlines, formulating U.S. international aviation policy, and the administration of the Department’s economic policies and programs designed to promote access to, competition in, and the health of the U.S. aviation system.  Mr. Steinberg is also responsible for coordination of Departmental policies and programs in all modes of international transportation and trade.

Prior to joining the Office of the Secretary, Mr. Steinberg was appointed by President Bush as the FAA's Chief Counsel in May 2003.  As Chief Counsel, he served as the top legal advisor to the Administrator of the FAA, overseeing a staff of 290 individuals, including approximately 200 lawyers, located in Washington and in the agency's 11 regional offices and technical centers.  He was responsible for all aspects of the FAA's legal activities, including the agency's regulatory program, administrative and judicial litigation, nationwide enforcement activities, legislation, alternative dispute resolution, ethics compliance, and legal relations with foreign civil aviation authorities.  Mr. Steinberg also provided extensive support for the FAA's multi-billion dollar procurement and airports programs.

Mr. Steinberg has held a variety of positions as a lawyer in the private sector, including several in the travel and transportation industry.  From 2000 to 2002 he was Executive Vice President-Administration, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Travelocity.com, Inc., the on-line travel services company.  From 1996 to 2000, he was Senior Vice President and then Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Sabre, Inc., a leading provider of computerized reservation systems and information technology to the travel industry.  From 1990 to 1996 he held a number of positions within the legal department of American Airlines, Inc., serving as Associate General Counsel in charge of the airline's employment and environmental legal practice, and Senior Attorney responsible for antitrust matters.  From 1986 to 1990 he was associated with the Los Angeles-based law firm of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher where he practiced antitrust law and commercial litigation.  Immediately prior to joining the FAA, he was Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Church & Dwight Co., Inc., a diversified consumer packaged goods and industrial products company with $1.5 billion in sales.

Mr. Steinberg earned his bachelor's degree in politics magna cum laude from Princeton University and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School.  After law school, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Gadbois, Jr., in the United States District Court, Central District-California.