Obama Nominates Top Coast Guard Official to Head TSA

President Obama on Tuesday nominated Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, the current vice commandant of the Coast Guard, to be the next head of the Transportation Security Administration.

Neffenger has served in the Coast Guard -- another Homeland Security Department component -- for 30 years, including a stint as the deputy national incident commander of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and as federal maritime security coordinator for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif. He has served as USCG vice commandant since May 2014.

“The talent and expertise Vice Adm. Neffenger brings to his new role after more than three decades at the U.S. Coast Guard will be valuable to this administration’s efforts to strengthen transportation security,” Obama said. “He has been a recognized leader in the face of our nation’s important challenges, and I am grateful for his service.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Neffenger will replace acting Administrator Melvin Carraway, who took over when John Pistole retired. Pistole, who came to TSA from the FBI, served as administrator for nearly five years and presided over the first unionization of TSA’s workforce.

DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said he could “not be more pleased” about Neffenger’s nomination.

“Pete Neffenger is one of the brightest and most capable flag officers in the U.S. military I have ever met,” Johnson said. “I have no doubt that his skills, intellect and energy that have up to now been devoted to maritime security will be easily translatable to aviation security.” 

Former TSA administrator James Loy also came to the agency from the Coast Guard, where he served as commandant.