Transport: Mulligan Up

When amiable Eugene Vidal retired as head of the politically charged Bureau of Air Commerce last year aviation circles thought the job would goto Major R. W. (“Shorty”) Schroeder of United Air Lines who has done much to improve air safety and service. But surprise choice was Fred Dow Fagg Jr., law professor who had headed the Bureau’s legal department for a year. Director Fagg so successfully showed his mettle that Washington observers predicted he, too, would soon free himself from the Commerce Department’s hampering restrictions, supervision, petty politics. After eight months Director Fagg announced his retirement. Last week another surprise choice came from Secretary of Commerce Roper: Assistant Director Denis Mulligan was made Director Fagg’s successor.

Bachelor Denis Mulligan is a 6 ft. 2 in., New York-born Irishman, big, bald and blue-eyed. A West Pointer, he was commissioned in the Air Corps in 1924, briefly flew Army planes. After resigning his commission, he saw the world for two years as a tramp sailor, then studied law, selling insurance to pay for his education. For four years before joining the B. A. C.’s enforcement section, the new chief practiced law with Manhattan’s Mengel & Conroy. Offsetting any practical improvements in the Bureau that Director Mulligan may have in mind is the fact that President Roosevelt has already approved a plan to liquidate the new Director’s bureau.