Monday night, the U.S. Senate voted 81 to 1 to confirm Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, the current vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to be the next Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported today.
Neffenger replaces acting TSA Administrator Melvin Carraway, who has been leading the agency since John Pistole retired at the end of 2014. Carraway was reassigned earlier this month after an internal DHS investigation found security failures at dozens of the busiest U.S. airports.
"Admiral Neffenger understands the challenges we face, and I know he is ready to take them on at TSA," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement. "During his 30-year career in the Coast Guard, Admiral Neffenger proved himself to be an effective operator and commander. I have utmost faith in Pete Neffenger, and I am confident he will be a strong leader of TSA."
On behalf of the travel industry, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow applauded Neffenger's appointment.
"The travel community is relieved and encouraged that TSA will now have long-term leadership in place, especially someone as confidence-inspiring as Mr. Neffenger. His qualifications for the position are virtually without peer, and during his confirmation hearings he distinguished himself with his adroit answers to many tough questions about this difficult period for the agency," Dow said. "Travel is crucial to both America's economy and way of life, but this country's ability to travel begins and ends with security. No one was ever under the illusion that TSA's job was going to be easy, but under Mr. Neffenger's leadership I expect that the agency will emerge from its recent challenges every bit as capable and effective as we need it to be."
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