Peter V. Neffenger Has Served As Vice Commandant Of The U.S. Coast Guard Since May 2014.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced his intent to nominate Vice Admiral Peter V. Neffenger (pictured) as Assistant Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration at the Department of Homeland Security.

“The talent and expertise Vice Admiral 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," President Obama said in a news release. "He has been a recognized leader in the face of our nation’s important challenges, and I am grateful for his service. I look forward to working with him in the months ahead.”

Vice Admiral Peter V. Neffenger has served as Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard since May 2014.  Vice Admiral Neffenger joined the Coast Guard in 1981, and has served in a number of positions, including Deputy Commandant for Operations, Director of Strategic Management and Doctrine, Deputy National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and Commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District.

Vice Admiral Neffenger served as Sector Commander and Federal Maritime Security Coordinator for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the central California coast from 2003 to 2006, where he established new and innovative approaches to the safety and security of our ports.

Vice Admiral Neffenger received a B.A. from Baldwin Wallace University, an M.A. from Central Michigan University, an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and an M.A. from the Naval War College.

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said in a statement that the vacancy has been the source of "months of bipartisan concern", and that the nomination will receive "prompt consideration" by the committee. "Admiral Neffenger’s lengthy military service offers a strong indication of essential leadership skills and an understanding of the threats our nation faces," Thune said. "While filling the TSA vacancy is critical, the Obama administration also needs to focus on finding qualified nominees for safety focused transportation posts that remain vacant.”
 
The Commerce Committee has legislative and oversight jurisdiction over TSA. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs also has oversight of the agency, as a component of the Department of Homeland Security. In January, a bipartisan group of five Commerce Committee Senators wrote to President Obama requesting a TSA nominee. Former TSA Administrator John Pistole announced his departure on October 16, 2014, and served his last day on December 31, 2014.
 
Other critical transportation posts under the Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction that lack a confirmed nominee exist within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

(Images from file)

FMI: www.tsa.gov, www.whitehouse.gov, www.commerce.senate.gov