Andrew B. Steinberg facts for kids

Andrew Bart Steinberg (born October 12, 1958 – died May 20, 2012) was an important lawyer who focused on aviation rules. He held several big jobs in both government and private companies in the United States. He worked as the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs for the United States Department of Transportation until 2008. Before that, he was the main lawyer for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He also worked as a partner at the international law firm Jones Day.

Andrew Steinberg's Career Journey

Andrew Steinberg had a long and interesting career. He worked for several major companies before joining the government.

Early Career in Travel and Law

From 2000 to 2002, Steinberg was a top executive and lawyer for Travelocity.com. This was a popular website for booking travel online. Before that, from 1996 to 2000, he worked for Sabre, Inc.. Sabre provides computer systems for the travel industry.

He also spent time working for American Airlines, Inc. from 1990 to 1996. There, he handled legal issues related to employees and the environment. Earlier in his career, he worked at a law firm called Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher in Los Angeles. He focused on laws about fair competition and business lawsuits.

Education and Legal Training

Andrew Steinberg studied politics at Princeton University, where he graduated with high honors. He then went to Harvard Law School and also graduated with honors. After law school, he worked for a judge, helping with legal research and decisions.

Working for the U.S. Government

Andrew Steinberg held two very important roles in the U.S. government, dealing with air travel and safety.

Assistant Secretary for Aviation

As the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Steinberg made big decisions about air travel. He allowed a new airline, Virgin America, to start flying in the U.S. This was a difficult decision because other airlines and worker groups were against it.

He also worked on international agreements. He helped create an "Open Skies" agreement with the European Union. This made it easier for airlines to fly between the U.S. and Europe. He also helped double the number of air routes between the U.S. and China. This allowed United Airlines and Delta Air Lines to start new flights to Chinese cities.

Steinberg also supported using new satellite technology for air traffic control. This was part of a plan to make air travel safer and more modern.

Chief Lawyer for the FAA

Before becoming Assistant Secretary, Steinberg was the chief lawyer for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA is the main government agency that oversees air safety in the U.S. He led a large team of about 200 aviation lawyers.

While at the FAA, he took action against a company that was accused of illegal flight operations. He also supported the FAA's decision to put new rules in place for air traffic controllers.

Later Work in Private Law

After his government service, Andrew Steinberg returned to private law practice. At the law firm Jones Day, he continued to work on aviation issues.

He represented airlines that were concerned about new safety rules. He also defended a smaller airline against safety claims. Steinberg was also critical of how slowly the U.S. air traffic control system was being updated.

Earlier in his career, he helped American Airlines win a case against other airlines. Those airlines had claimed American Airlines was trying to unfairly control prices.

Awards and Recognition

Andrew Steinberg received several awards for his work in aviation and environmental protection.

In 2008, he won an award from the Environmental Protection Agency. This was for his work on protecting the ozone layer at an international aviation organization.

After he passed away, in 2013, he was given the L. Welch Pogue Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aviation. This award recognizes people who have made a big difference in aviation.