Michael E. Levine

Michael E. Levine (Born New York, NY, United States, died February 3, 2017 age 75) was a "Distinguished Research Scholar" at the New York University School of Law. He made substantial contributions to the world of air transportation and its regulation as a senior airline executive, an academic and a government official. He retired from Northwest Airlines in 1999 to return to academic life.

Background

Levine held a

As a government official, Levine was instrumental in bringing about airline deregulation. In 1978 and 1979, he served as General Director, International and Domestic Aviation, (the senior staff position at the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board) and devised many of the mechanisms and practices used to deregulate the industry. He also served as a member of the Aviation Safety Commission, established by Congress in 1986 to evaluate airline safety since deregulation.[6]

Recognition

Levine was named among the ten most influential pioneers in the history of commercial aviation by Airfinance Journal, received the Transportation Research Foundation’s Distinguished Transportation Researcher award for lifetime achievement, and was the recipient of the CAB’s Distinguished Service Award.

Controversy

Levine's Yale SOM deanship generated some controversy that was covered fairly extensively by the media. When Levine became dean, Yale's SOM was unable to attract a dean with a national reputation. President Benno Schmidt was under pressure from the Yale Corporation to change it or close it. He recruited Levine, a regularly appointed holder of a professorial chair who was already a member of the SOM faculty, as dean. Together they made changes that infuriated some faculty, although they were supported by others. The aggrieved faculty and some student and alumni supporters publicly resisted the changes.

Death

Levine died February 3, 2017.^[7]

References