The new head of FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) vowed to be “the strongest, most effective public advocate” for the NextGen modernization program, as the effort faces long-term funding questions.

Krakowski, formerly United Airlines’ vice president of flight operations, was appointed ATO chief operating officer, effective Oct. 1. He gave the keynote address Tuesday at the Air Traffic Control Association meeting in Washington.

ATO oversees the agency’s 35,000 air-traffic controllers, technicians and engineers, and is leading the transition to NextGen.

In late August, FAA awarded a $1.86 billion contract, including options, to ITT Corp. to begin building the infrastructure for Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS-B), considered a cornerstone of NextGen. This year, the Bush administration has allocated $173 million for “transformational” programs leading to NextGen.

But reauthorization of the FAA is held up in Congress, which is funding the agency’s operations through a continuing resolution.

“Perhaps the greatest challenge is the need for durable, sustained political will. It is always about the money,” Krakowski said. “We need a secure, sustainable, durable funding stream. But so far Congress has opted only to give us a continuing resolution, and that could spell trouble for NextGen.”