DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson issues statement on Peter Neffenger’s confirmation as TSA Administrator

On June 23, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson issued the following statement:

Last night the Senate voted 81-1 to confirm Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, the current Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to be the next Administrator of TSA.  Admiral Neffenger understands the challenges we face, and I know he is ready to take them on at TSA.  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.

I thank the Senate for its support of Admiral Neffenger, and Senators Ron Johnson, Tom Carper, John Thune and Bill Nelson in particular, for their leadership in getting Admiral Neffenger’s nomination through the Senate.

Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger

Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger assumed the duties as the 29th Vice Commandant in May 2014. Prior to this, Vice Admiral Neffenger served as the Deputy Commandant for Operations, where he directed strategy, policy, resources and doctrine for the employment of Coast Guard forces globally. Other assignments include Director of Coast Guard Strategic Management and Doctrine, and Commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District in charge of Coast Guard operations throughout the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway region. Vice Admiral Neffenger also served as Commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach where he was the Captain of the Port and Federal Maritime Security Coordinator. Additionally, he was the Budget Officer of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Liaison Officer to the Territory of American Samoa, and a student engineer on U.S. Coast Guard Cutter GALLATIN among other operational and staff assignments.

Source: DHS