Dear Miniscule,
If Mike Smith has been considered not good enough for the DAS appointment
, then be warned that the person you appoint must have demonstrably superior skills, knowledge and regulatory experience that are credible in the eyes of the industry if you are not about to embark on a second wave of dissent in the aviation regulatory space.
If you pick a dud, neither you nor your appointee will get any slack in the Parliament or the press...