Edward L. Bolton Jr. is the assistant administrator for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Office of NextGen is responsible for leading the modernization of the National Airspace System, the move to a smarter, satellite-based system with digital technologies and advanced procedures that will ensure safe and efficient air travel for decades to come.

Bolton leads a federal workforce of more than 900 employees and manages NextGen’s $1 billion annual budget. His office oversees the world’s leading aviation research complex, located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

A major initiative under Bolton’s leadership has been collaborative work with FAA counterparts and the aviation industry to identify early-benefit, high-readiness NextGen capabilities. These are already being delivered to airspace users in the near timeframe with specific milestones and delivery locations.

Bolton joined the FAA in September 2013 after a career with the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of Major General. He is a Level III program manager and has had extensive experience managing multi-billion-dollar Air Force space programs. His last Air Force position was deputy assistant secretary for budget in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller, leading a team of financial managers responsible for the Air Force's $110 billion annual budget for an organization of nearly 700,000 personnel.

He also served as director for defense policy at the White House National Security Council, and was deputy director of systems engineering and integration at the National Reconnaissance Office.

Bolton is an electrical engineer and has advanced degrees in national security strategy and systems management.