Vicki Cox is the FAA's Senior Vice President for NextGen and Operations Planning in Federal Aviation Administration. She provides increased focus on the transformation of the nation's air traffic control system by providing systems engineering, research and technology development, and test and evaluation expertise. She is also responsible for the NextGen portfolio and its integration and implementation. Within the FAA, Ms. Cox has served as the Director of the ATO's Operations Planning International Office, the Director of Flight Services Finance and Planning and the Program Director of the Aviation Research Division. Prior to joining the FAA, Ms. Cox was Director of International Technology Programs in the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She has an extensive research and development and program management background, having supported the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Science and Technology as the DOD Laboratory Liaison. She also worked as a Program Manager for a number of ballistic missile defense technology programs for the U.S. Air Force. A physicist, Ms. Cox served as Chief of Physics and Scientific Director of the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development in London. She also worked as a scientist responsible for thermal vacuum conditioning and testing of the Hubble Telescope for NASA. Ms. Cox graduated from Converse College and received a master's degree from East Carolina University. She has a certificate in U.S. National Security Policy from Georgetown University and is a DOD Level III Certified Acquisition Professional in Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering. She also earned her private pilot's license in 1985.