The Wicks Group (TWG) is pleased to announce that John Benning joined the firm as a Senior Technical Consultant in November 2025 following a long career with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Mr. Benning will draw on more than four decades of experience in aviation safety, international regulatory oversight, accident investigation, and airworthiness to support TWG’s consulting and legal engagements across the global aviation sector.
Immediately before retiring from the FAA, Mr. Benning served as Senior Technical Advisor in the FAA International Program Division (AFS-50), supporting International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program planning and management and providing expert technical guidance on aviation safety matters related to ICAO Annex standards and recommended practices (SARPs), international aircraft operations, organizational certification, air traffic operations and procedures, and airspace and procedural policy .
Prior to his Senior Technical Advisor role, Mr. Benning was the Acting Director of the FAA’s Accident Investigations and Recommendations Division. In that capacity, he managed a large, multi-level organization responsible for conducting and supporting investigations of major and significant aviation accidents. He directed complex accident investigations and special studies in coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), affected offices within the FAA, and external stakeholders. He also coordinated accident investigation support on foreign or domestic mission-related accidents that included extremely sensitive location/position information.
Mr. Benning also served as Manager of the FAA International Field Office Management Branch (AFS-54) for nearly a decade (until 2024 ), leading office activities and technical programs related to investigation, inspection, surveillance, regulatory compliance, enforcement, certification, and certificate management of foreign certificate holders. He also oversaw FAA engagement with more than 1,000 repair stations across 66 countries.
Mr. Benning’s early FAA career included serving in other senior leadership positions within the FAA’s Flight Standards Service and Office of Safety Standards, including Acting Division Manager of AFS-50 and Manager of the FAA Frankfurt International Field Office.
Prior to joining the FAA, Mr. Benning served 24 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. His Navy career provided hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance, maintenance management, quality assurance and flight crew functions for numerous types of Navy aircraft.
Mr. Benning received the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary’s Award in 2019 for his contributions to the FAA’s Brexit Safety Team, which supported the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. He holds both a Master of Aeronautical Science and a Bachelor of Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he also served as an adjunct instructor.
Those interested in discussing consulting or regulatory advisory needs with Mr. Benning may contact him by email at jbenning@wicks-group.com or by telephone at +1-571-733-4676.