Maria Killian is an experienced Program Manager with over 30 years of progressive experience providing oversight and support to high-profile and highly complex projects. She has a solid record of performance in strategic and tactical planning, operations management, program and management analysis, and resource optimization. Maria is recognized for her expertise in managing analytical studies, key initiatives, and high-profile performance improvement projects. She is known for her strong critical thinking, process improvement, problem-solving, research, and liaison skills, as well as her outstanding communication, creativity, flexibility, self-motivation, political savvy, and leadership abilities.

Currently, Maria serves as the Project Manager for the Powered Lift Project within the esteemed Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Program at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In this role, she oversees every facet of the project, from initial planning to seamless execution, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgetary parameters, and technical requisites. She coordinates with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and external collaborators to achieve project objectives efficiently. Maria leads the Powered Lift Project team with clear direction and support throughout all phases, developing and executing comprehensive project strategies, managing budget allocation and expenditure, and cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders to align objectives and ensure satisfaction. She collaborates with technical teams to ensure meticulous adherence to project specifications and regulatory requirements, proactively identifies and mitigates potential risks, maintains transparent communication channels, and upholds stringent quality standards throughout the project lifecycle. Maria also ensures compliance with relevant regulations and safety standards governing powered lift technologies and fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration within the project team to promote creativity and continuous improvement.