Benedict L. Sliney (born October 12, 1945)[1][2] is an American retired lawyer, air traffic controller, and former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Operations Manager.

[4] He began with the Federal Aviation Administration in 1969, working at several air traffic control stations in the New York area.

He briefly served as Airspace Branch Manager at the FAA Eastern Region headquarters.

[3] This was an unprecedented act, which the 9/11 Commission later denoted as an important and decisive moment in that morning's chaos.

Later, the film's writer and director, Paul Greengrass, offered him the opportunity to play himself, which he accepted.