An economist and a fighter pilot in charge of civil aviation safety....God help us all.
The questions that should be asked as part of the employment interview:
Have you ever run a business, or have you only been employed by the government in some capacity?
Have you ever seen / flown in / flown a piston engine aircraft?
Have you ever been self employed?
I doubt that anyone who has gone from the military to the airlines to CASA has the first clue about GA - and this has been proven to me on more than one occasion. Prepare to see more nails in the coffin that is GA, as every step is taken to regulate GA out of existence.