Michael Daniel appointed as head of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan
The former FAA official takes the helm to lead Kazakhstan’s civil aviation oversight and advance key international initiatives
As anticipated, American civil aviation veteran Michael E. Daniel officially assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer at the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK) on May 4, 2026, as announced today by this Central Asian republic’s Ministry of Transport.
With over 40 years of international experience in aviation safety, airline certification, and the development of civil aviation state oversight systems, Daniel brings a wealth of expertise to the role. According to the Ministry, one of the top priorities for the new director will be the establishment of direct commercial flights connecting Kazakhstan with the United States.
He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (B.Sc. Aeronautics) and holder of FAA Maintenance Licenses with Inspection Authorization and is a licensed pilot. He is a member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI & AsiaSASI), Flight Safety Foundation, SAE International, Chartered Quality Institute & IRCA certificated Auditor, and Project Management Institute as an accredited Project Management Professional. He also served in the United States Marine Corps.
Daniel began his career with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), holding several key roles, including Credentialed Supervisory Safety Inspector and Accident Investigator, Senior Policy Manager.
He worked within various FAA international offices, including Frankfurt, New York, and Washington D.C. From 2006 to 2009, Daniel headed the FAA offices in Singapore and Beijing, where he oversaw foreign MRO stations and conducted international safety assessments.
Throughout his career, Daniel has led numerous international initiatives, including the APEC Transportation Safety and Aviation Security Working Group. He managed a number of high profile projects for the transportation industry including Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (i.e. BASA MIP).
Prior to this appointment, Daniel was based in Singapore, where he served as the Managing Director of the aerospace consultancy Aviation Insight.
CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Kazakhstan, US to cooperate in aviation education and research.
CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Kazakhstan’s ICAO security compliance soars to 95.7%, among highest in Eurasia.
