"Mary Shafer" wrote...

The FAA regulates private (civil) aviation and public (government)
passenger-carrying operations, but no other public operations. NASA
flies fighters without FAA regulation but not the KingAirs carrying
managers around (new FAA rule, which was justified by a couple of
passenger-carrying charter-like flights, I think by state agencies,
that had serious accidents).

If, by "operations" you mean the aircraft equipment and certifications, pilot
requirements, etc., you are correct. However, the FAA DOES regulate
"operations" to the extent those aircraft use US airspace. Most of the flight
rules in 14 CFR 91 (nee FAR Part 91) apply to civil and public aircraft
operations alike.