WASHINGTON, D.C./July 30, 2026 — On National Whistleblower Day, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) honors a Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) whistleblower with the 2026 Outstanding Public Servant Award for reporting the understaffing of medical officers responsible for clearing pilots and air traffic controllers to safely operate.
The whistleblower, Deputy Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Brett Wyrick, disclosed to OSC that the understaffing of FAA medical officers within the Office of Aerospace Medicine created dangerous backlogs in reviewing medical certificates for airmen and air traffic controllers. As a result, hundreds of pilots kept flying with certificates that were not fully cleared, and some avoided reporting illnesses, injuries, or new medicines to prevent further grounding. New air traffic controllers had to wait longer for medical approval, which slowed down hiring and left fewer people controlling the skies.
The FAA’s 2023 investigation confirmed Dr. Wyrick’s allegations. In response, the FAA hired 26 additional medical officers — a 40% increase — and implemented new efficiency measures to streamline the medical certification and clearance processes. OSC issued a press release when it transmitted the full report to the President and Congress.
“On National Whistleblower Day, I commend Dr. Wyrick for coming forward and for his commitment to making the airways safer for the flying public. His disclosure led to crucial reforms at the FAA and signifies the vital role federal employees play in identifying risks and strengthening aviation safety,” stated Chief Counsel Charles Baldis.
Whistleblowers are critical to identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies, and their courage helps ensure that the government stewards taxpayer dollars responsibly. To report a whistleblower disclosure to OSC, click here.