5 U.S.C. § 2109 — Air traffic controller; Secretary

For this title—(1) “air traffic controller” or “controller” means a civilian employee of the Department of Transportation or Department of Defense who works in an air traffic control facility or flight service station facility and—(A) actively performs either (i) separating and controlling air traffic or (ii) providing preflight, inflight, or airport advisory service to aircraft operators; or (B) is the immediate supervisor of an employee described in subparagraph (A). (2) When “Secretary” is used with “air traffic controller” or “controller,” it means the Secretary of Transportation for controllers in the Department of Transportation and the Secretary of Defense for controllers in the Department of Defense.