Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs

The Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs is the head of the Office of Aviation and International Affairs within the United States Department of Transportation. The Assistant Secretary has responsibility for licensing of U.S. and foreign airlines and for formulating U.S. international aviation policy. The Assistant Secretary is also responsible for the administration of the Department of Transportation's economic policies and programs designed to promote access to, competition in, and the health of the U.S. aviation system. The Assistant Secretary coordinates Departmental policies and programs in all modes of international transportation and trade.cite web | title="U.S. Department of Transportation / Andrew B. Steinberg" | url=http://www.dot.gov/bios/steinberg.htm | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear= 2007 ]

The Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs is appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. [cite web | title="US CODE: Title 49,102. Department of Transportation" | url=http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode49/usc_sec_49_00000102----000-.html | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear= 2007 ] The Assistant Secretary is paid at level IV of the Executive Schedule, [cite web | title="US CODE: Title 5,5315. Positions at level IV" | url=http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode05/usc_sec_05_00005315----000-.html | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear= 2007 ] meaning he or she receives a basic annual salary of $143,000. [cite web | title="Salary Table 2006-EX" | url=http://www.opm.gov/oca/06tables/html/ex.asp | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear= 2007 ] The incumbent Assisant Secretary is Andrew B. Steinberg, who was confirmed on September 29, 2006. Previous Assistant Secretaries include Karan Bhatia, [cite web | title="Carriers Fight for New China Flights - WSJ.com" | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB110185627208487303.html?mod=googlewsj | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear= 2007 ] Read C. Van DeWater, [cite web | title="CNN.com - Airlines propose marketing triune - Mar. 4, 2003" | url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/03/04/airline.alliance.ap/ | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear= 2007 ] and Francisco Sanchez. [cite web | title="Worldandnation: Aviation secretary's job hinges on presidential election" | url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/082000/Worldandnation/Aviation_secretary_s_.shtml | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear= 2007 ]

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