Fully 1 of 6 Not Government Pensioners; Still no
Women
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta
just announced the selection of federal security directors (FSDs)
for 24 airports that will also assume responsibility for an
additional 40 airports.
"These FSDs will be our personal representatives, responsible
for ensuring the safety of our skies and fulfilling the
Transportation Department's role in the war on terrorism."
Secretary Mineta said. "These experienced professionals will be on
the front lines in the war on terrorism and are integral in
furthering the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA)
commitment to first-class security and first-class customer
service."
The position of federal security director was created by the
Aviation and Transportation Security Act, signed by President Bush
on Nov. 19, 2001. Secretary Mineta said the new FSDs will fill a
crucial gap in aviation security by providing, for the first time,
a clear line of authority for security at our nation's airports
Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, CA: Fred Lau has
served more than 30 years with the San Francisco police department
where his last assignment was as the chief of police. Prior to that
he was the chief inspector in the Criminal Investigators
Bureau. Lau holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Policing
from San Francisco State University. Lau will also assume FSD
responsibilities at the Stockton, CA, Metropolitan Airport.
Durango/LaPlata County Airport, CO: Richard Fought served as a
senior instructor for the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training
Academy. He previously served as the police chief in Waurika,
OK. His career includes law enforcement service with
assignments with the Texas Narcotics Control program. A
veteran, Fought completed a tour of combat duty with the United
States Marine Corps in Vietnam. He will also assume FSD
responsibilities at airports in Alamosa, CO, Cortez, CO, and
Farmington, NM.
Grand Junction-Walker Field Airport, CO: Rene Dhenin last served
as a supervisory special agent with the TSA’s security field
office in Denver where he oversaw security operations for airports
in Colorado and Wyoming. Prior to that he served in many
capacities with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Europe
and the United States. Dhenin attended El Camino College and
holds a degree in administration of justice. He will also assume
FSD responsibilities at the Gunnison County Airport, the Montrose
County Airport, and the Telluride Regional Airport, all in
Colorado.
Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort
Myers, FL: Douglas Perkins has worked for the FAA for more than 19
years, most recently as the manager of the Mission and Requirements
Analysis Division. Perkins holds a master’s degree in
management and business from Webster’s University, St. Louis,
MO and a bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, Daytona Beach, FL. He is also a graduate of the
Defense Language Institute. Perkins has been a licensed pilot
for the past 29 years. He will also assume FSD
responsibilities for the Naples, FL, Municipal Airport.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, FL: Frank Capello
served over 23 years with the FAA, most recently as the federal
security manager at the Miami International Airport. He
served six years with the active-duty Navy and more than 18 years
in the Naval reserve supporting the National Security Agency.
He holds a master’s degree in public administration. He will
also assume FSD responsibilities at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater
International Airport in Clearwater, FL.
Tallahassee Regional Airport, FL: Quinten Johnson has 28 years
of transportation safety and security experience, most recently
serving as the director of the FAA’s Office of Security
Policy and Planning. He has also held positions with the
National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Customs Service and
the U.S. Coast Guard. Johnson holds a master’s degree from
the Ohio State University and graduated from the National Defense
University. He will also assume FSD responsibilities at airports in
Dothan, AL; Albany, GA; and Valdosta, GA.
West Palm Beach International Airport, FL: Timothy Brooks
recently retired from the United States Marine Corps. His last
assignment was as the commanding officer of the Marine
Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group in Camp Pendleton, CA.
During his distinguished military career he attended the Pakistan
National Defence College, and served as the telecommunications
advisor at the Kuwait Joint Headquarters in Kuwait City,
Kuwait. Brooks holds a Master of Arts degree from the Naval
War College and a Master of Science in management from Salve Regina
University in Newport, RI.
Bloomington-Normal Airport, IL: David Chovancek recently served
as a senior security consultant for government force protection
projects. He served over 14 years in military intelligence
for the U.S. Army, including counterintelligence and
counter-terrorism operations. He holds a Master of Public
Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma and a
Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of
Central Texas. Chovancek will also assume FSD
responsibilities at the University of Illinois-Willard Airport in
Savoy, IL.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, KY: Terry
Burgess last worked for Continental Airlines where he served as the
principal security inspector and as the primary liaison to the
federal government for aviation security. He served with the
FAA for many years and was responsible for reviewing foreign
security procedures at airports in Europe to ensure compliance with
International Civil Aviation Organization
standards.
Bluegrass Airport, Lexington, KY: Lanny Miller recently worked
in the TSA’s Security Liaison Division. Prior to
joining the TSA team, Miller worked for the United States Postal
Service (USPS) where he recently retired after 28 years of
service. Since 1991, he supervised all criminal
investigations conducted by postal inspectors in the Eastern
Kentucky Federal Judicial District. Other positions he held
with the USPS include fraud specialist, resident agent in charge,
and as a member of the financial audit team.
New Orleans International Airport, LA: Robert Besal
recently retired from the United States Navy and most recently
served as commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force. Other
assignments in his naval career include deputy commander of the
Joint Task Force, Southwest Asia where he oversaw daily air
operations over southern Iraq in support of the UN Security Council
and Operation Southern Watch. Besal holds a Bachelor of Aviation
Management from Auburn University.
Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, MI: Ellis
Brumbaugh is a retired detective with more than 15 years experience
with the Ingram County, MI, sheriff’s department. A
former colonel in the Army National Guard, Brumbaugh retired after
31 years active and reserve service. He holds a Bachelor in
Business Administration degree from Northwood University, Midland,
MI. Brumbaugh will also assume FSD responsibilities at
airports in Alpena, Sault Ste. Marie, Manistee and Pellston,
Michigan.
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, MO: William Switzer
served as a technical director in the Systems Engineering Group of
the Anteon International Corporation. Prior to working for
Anteon, he was the director of the TRW Systems and Information
Technology Group in Washington, DC. A former pilot with the
Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, Switzer
has over 5400 flight hours in tactical jets and 1150 carrier
arrested landings. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
industrial management from the West Virginia Institute of
Technology.
Eppley Airfield, Omaha, NE: Michael Kudlacz is a former major
general in the U.S. Air Force. His last assignment was in the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency as the director, On-Site
Inspection. In that capacity he oversaw inspections related
to mutual confidence in arms control treaty compliance. Rated
as a command pilot, Kudlacz has more than 3,200 flying hours and
220 combat hours. He holds a master’s degree in sociology
from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Science degree in
criminal justice from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
Additionally he will assume FSD responsibilities at the Sioux
Gateway Airport in Sioux City, IA; and the Karl Stefan Memorial
Airport in Norfolk, NE.
Atlantic City International Airport, NJ: Vincent Amoresano is
the former chief of police for the Paterson, NJ, Police Department
where he served for over 27 years. Most recently he served as
a consultant to the Department of Justice International Criminal
Investigation Training Assistance Program in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Amoresano holds a Master of Public
Administration degree from Norwich University in Vermont and a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Safety Administration from
William Patterson University of New Jersey. Additionally he will
assume FSD responsibilities at the Salisbury/Wicomico County
Regional Airport in Salisbury, MD, and the Trenton-Mercer Airport
in Trenton, NJ.
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport, OH: Jerome Witt has
more than 29 years of law enforcement experience including serving
as an International Police Monitor for the U.S. State Department in
Yugoslavia. Prior to that he served for 22 years with the
Fairborne, Ohio Police Department before his retirement. He
also served as the chief of police for a developmental center for
mentally retarded persons, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree
in criminal justice and administration.
Rogue Valley International –Medford Airport, OR: William
Hice has worked in aviation security for 11 years, most recently as
the supervisory special agent for 15 airports throughout Montana
and Washington. Prior to that he served as an interim federal
security representative in Montana and Oregon. Hice holds a
Bachelor of Science degree in criminology from Southern Oregon
State College and will assume FSD responsibilities at the Klamath
Falls Airport.
Philadelphia International Airport, PA: James
Golden has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, and
most recently served as director of the Trenton, NJ, Police
Department. With his police department team, he helped create
the security and terrorist threat investigative unit following the
attacks on New York and the anthrax mailings in the Trenton area.
Golden holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management from
Philadelphia University.
T.F. Green State Airport, Providence, RI: Joseph Salter
has served in a number of airport and transportation security and
emergency operations positions. He holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in behavioral sciences from the New York Institute
of Technology and will also assume FSD responsibilities at airports
in Hyannis, Provincetown, Vineyard Haven and Nantucket, MA.
Greenville-Spartensburg Airport, SC: Mike Tarman most
recently served as a bureau administrator for the Arizona
Department of Corrections. A retired Army colonel, Tarman spent the
majority of his 27-year career with the Military Police
Corps. He holds a Masters of Public Administration from
Shippensburg University and a Bachelor of Science degree in
criminal justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Tarman is also a graduate of the Army War College. He will
also assume FSD responsibilities at the Asheville Regional Airport
in Fletcher, NC.
McGhee Tyson Airport, Alcoa, TN: Charles Brockman has worked for
the FAA for more than 16 years, most recently as the manager of the
Nashville, TN, Security Field Office responsible for operational
support and oversight of civil aviation security for 17 airports in
Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Northern Alabama. Prior
to that he worked for 16 years as a state trooper and patrol
officer in Pensacola, FL. Brockman retired from the United
States Air Force Reserve with 26 years service and will assume FSD
responsibilities at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, and the
Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, TN.
Burlington International Airport, VT: George Harkness is a
former commander with 22 years in the United States Navy. His
last assignment was at the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington,
DC. Most recently, Harkness worked in law enforcement with
the Dublin, Ohio, Police Department. He holds a masters degree in
defense economics from the U.S. Naval War College and a Bachelor of
Science in education from the Ohio State University. Harkness will
also assume FSD responsibilities at the Lebanon, NH Municipal
Airport, the Clinton County Airport in Plattsburgh, NY, and the
Rutland State Airport, VT.
Roanoke Regional Airport, VA: Robert Schnekel most recently
served in the Department of the Treasury as a senior advisor for
terrorism and violent crime. A former special agent with the
United States Army, Schnekel served in Laos during the Vietnam
War. He holds a Master of Arts degree in international
transactions from George Mason University, VA, and a Bachelor of
Arts degree in public administration from Upper Iowa
University. Schnekel will also assume FSD
responsibilities for airports in Bluefield, Lewisburg, and Raleigh,
West Virginia.
Spokane International Airport, WA: David Kuper currently works
for the FAA as a security program manager. His background
includes 20 years experience in law enforcement and security.
Kuper worked on the design of security systems for Denver
International Airport and is a member of the American Society for
Industrial Security. He will also assume FSD responsibilities
for airports in Lewiston, ID; Moses Lake, WA; East Wenatchee, WA;
and Pullman, WA.
FSDs serve under the direction of the Under
Secretary of Transportation for Security, and oversee federal
security operations at the nation's airports. The starting salary
for executive-level FSDs is $105,000, and that for
non-executive-level FSDs is $55,000.
FSDs will be directly responsible for a full range of airport
security. This announcement brings the total number of FSDs
announced to 71. 358 positions remain unfilled, even at starting
salaries that range from $55,000 up to $150,000. The TSA has not
returned our calls requesting a breakout of which positions pay
less than the $105,000 starting salary for "executive FSDs."