How can you possibly keep up with all the COVID-related issues you have to deal with every day?

It’s a challenge, definitely, so you have to have a good team, which I’m fortunate to have. Two years ago, when this first broke, it was for United Airlines a matter of survival. This was a global pandemic, and we’re the world’s biggest global airlines. Flights all over the world were being grounded, and we were dealing with that from day one. Now traffic is coming back, but things change daily. In the first week of February, Australia just announced that it was opening up its borders. But the range of issues itself is remarkable. Government affairs is involved, obviously, but so are operations and even staffing, as we have to plan for crews in this uncertain, constantly changing environment. We’re dealing with the public, too, of course, to reassure them of the lengths we go to keep our cabins clean. We were the first airlines to require masks. It’s fascinating — and a challenge. I’ve been working with the airline industry for only 4 1/2 years now. It’s still new, and it’s exciting.

And then there are the recurring technology concerns?

The most recent involves the plans of the telecoms, mainly AT&T and Verizon, to switch to high-speed service — so-called 5G service. The FAA has notified airlines that the towers involved in this service can interfere with the operation of aircraft — with their navigation systems, to be specific. After a good deal of negotiation between the airlines’ CEOs, the telecoms and the federal government, including the White House, it looks like some accommodation is being made to ensure that air travel and 5G service can safely coexist as the telecoms have agreed to limit impacts near airports. These are complicated issues, as you can see.

Then there are totally unanticipated things to respond to, right?

Exactly, and here’s an example: Commercial airlines, including United, were used to evacuate Afghanistan when it fell.

Let’s talk about you. What prepared you for such a career?

As a kid, I was always fascinated by government and politics. At 10 years old, I was handing out “McGovern for President” brochures. I was high school class president three years out of four, and as an undergraduate, I was offered an internship with a congressman on Capitol Hill, which I accepted. Then I was offered a full-time staff position, so I moved to Washington and finished my undergraduate degree in political science from George Washington University at night. I also got my law degree at night while working on the Hill. It was when I worked for Occidental Petroleum, which had a tuition assistance program, that I got my LLM (which is a master’s in law) in international and comparative law from Georgetown’s Law Center. My law degree is from George Mason.

But you never practiced law?

No, and that often strikes people as odd or that it requires some explanation. But not everybody who has a law degree has to practice law. It is a great preparation for public affairs work, and for government affairs work in particular. It was exactly the background I needed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to do the work I do.

You’re on the board of Ford’s Theatre?

I am, and it is so gratifying. There are very few places like Ford’s Theatre in Washington, and it is so vital to this city and its history. It’s much more than a theater. It is an institution. Ford’s Theatre brings people together in a nonpartisan way, and that is so important these days. But Ford’s Theatre also plays an increasingly important role in planning for the city’s future. It is behind a lot of programs for the underserved community and to eradicate racism. And that is appropriate, because racial reconciliation is a cause that was very important to Abraham Lincoln.

Reach Fariello at [email protected].