U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

29–976 PDF WASHINGTON : 2018

S. HRG. 115–223 

NOMINATION OF VICE ADMIRAL 

DAVID P. PEKOSKE, TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY 

OF HOMELAND SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION 

SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, 

SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

JUNE 21, 2017 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

( 

Available online: http://www.govinfo.gov 

(II) 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman 

ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri 

TED CRUZ, Texas 

DEB FISCHER, Nebraska 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas 

DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska 

DEAN HELLER, Nevada 

JAMES INHOFE, Oklahoma 

MIKE LEE, Utah 

RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia 

CORY GARDNER, Colorado 

TODD YOUNG, Indiana 

BILL NELSON, Florida, Ranking 

MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut 

BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii 

EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts 

CORY BOOKER, New Jersey 

TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

GARY PETERS, Michigan 

TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois 

MAGGIE HASSAN, New Hampshire 

CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada 

NICK ROSSI, Staff Director 

ADRIAN ARNAKIS, Deputy Staff Director 

JASON VAN BEEK, General Counsel 

KIM LIPSKY, Democratic Staff Director 

CHRIS DAY, Democratic Deputy Staff Director 

RENAE BLACK, Senior Counsel 

(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Hearing held on June 21, 2017 ............................................................................... 1 

Statement of Senator Thune ................................................................................... 1 

Statement of Senator Nelson .................................................................................. 3 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 4 

Statement of Senator Booker .................................................................................. 17 

Statement of Senator Inhofe ................................................................................... 19 

Statement of Senator Cortez Masto ....................................................................... 21 

Statement of Senator Gardner ............................................................................... 23 

Statement of Senator Sullivan ............................................................................... 25 

Statement of Senator Cantwell .............................................................................. 27 

Statement of Senator Blumenthal .......................................................................... 28 

Statement of Senator Peters ................................................................................... 31 

Statement of Senator Klobuchar ............................................................................ 33 

Statement of Senator Hassan ................................................................................. 35 

Statement of Senator Capito .................................................................................. 37 

WITNESSES

Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Homeland 

Security, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security ............................................................................................... 4 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 7 

Biographical information ................................................................................. 9 

APPENDIX

Response to written questions submitted to Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske 

by: 

Hon. Deb Fischer .............................................................................................. 41 

Hon. Bill Nelson ............................................................................................... 41 

Hon. Brian Schatz ............................................................................................ 42 

Hon. Cory Booker ............................................................................................. 42 

Hon. Tammy Duckworth .................................................................................. 43 

(1) 

NOMINATION OF VICE ADMIRAL 

DAVID P. PEKOSKE, TO BE ASSISTANT 

SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 

TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 

ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

HOMELAND SECURITY 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 

U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m. in room SR– 

253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. John Thune, Chairman 

of the Committee, presiding. 

Present: Senators Thune [presiding], Nelson, Booker, Inhofe, Cortez Masto, Gardner, Sullivan, Cantwell, Blumenthal, Peters, 

Klobuchar, Hassan, Capito, Markey, Wicker, Young, Fischer, and 

Heller. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN THUNE, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA 

The CHAIRMAN. Good morning. Today we will consider the nomination of Admiral David Pekoske to become the next Administrator 

of the Transportation Security Administration. Having spent over 

32 years in the Coast Guard after graduating from the Coast 

Guard Academy in 1977, Admiral Pekoske is an exceptionally wellqualified nominee to become the next TSA Administrator. 

His extensive leadership experience ranges from serving as the 

Commander of the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area and Coast Guard 

Defense Forces West, where he was in charge of all Coast Guard 

operations in the Western Hemisphere, to becoming the 26th Vice 

Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard in 2009, where he served as 

the second-in-command, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Component Acquisition Executive of the Coast Guard. 

Admiral Pekoske’s nomination to become TSA Administrator 

comes at an important time. Security threats remain a persistent 

challenge for both aviation and surface transportation, and the 

TSA is not only tasked with protecting these modes from terrorist 

attacks, but also ensuring the freedom of movement of people and 

commerce in an efficient manner. 

Since its creation by this Committee in response to the 9/11 attacks, the TSA has been subject to extensive scrutiny by Congress, 

the public, and the media. The TSA has been appropriately critiVerDate Nov 24 2008 08:06 Jun 04, 2018 Jkt 075679 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 S:\GPO\DOCS\29976.TXT JACKIE
2 

cized for issues like the ease with which covert testers from the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office have been able to smuggle contraband 

through screening checkpoints, as well as persistent problems with 

large acquisitions. 

In spite of these challenges, the previous TSA Administrator, Admiral Peter Neffenger, made significant positive changes to the 

agency, some of which include shortening wait times during last 

summer’s travel season, improving technology at checkpoints, and 

the creation of a training academy for workers. I hope that Admiral 

Pekoske can build on these improvements, provide continuity for 

TSA’s workforce, and apply his extensive leadership skills to solving the challenges that remain should he be confirmed. 

The Commerce Committee has been active on aviation security. 

Last Congress, the Committee passed the most comprehensive reforms to TSA in a decade in the FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 2016, which addressed the challenges posed by unauthorized access to secure areas of airports, expanded access to TSA 

PreCheck, and attempted to optimize checkpoint operations. 

Earlier this year, however, the Commerce Committee held an 

oversight hearing in which DHS Inspector General John Roth testified that challenges still remain with regard to many of these 

issues. Inspector General Roth’s testimony indicated that these 

challenges include vulnerabilities related to the vetting of employees, ensuring that only cleared employees have access to secure 

areas, and the troubling issue of lost or stolen access badges. I hope 

that Admiral Pekoske will make progress in addressing these persistent problems raised by Inspector General Roth. 

As the Committee continues work—to work, I should say, with 

TSA to improve aviation security, it’s important to incorporate the 

perspectives of stakeholders. The Commerce Committee recently 

held a hearing to highlight stakeholder perspectives on improving 

TSA to better serve the traveling public. One of the major themes 

that emerged from the witness testimony was the need for a riskbased approach to security as well as better collaboration between 

TSA and industry to promote innovation. 

Currently, the Agency is drawing considerable attention for exploring the possible expansion of the ban on personal electronic devices, such as laptop computers, on flights to the United States 

from certain last point of departure airports. While the Secretary 

of Homeland Security has recently signaled that such a move may 

be unnecessary, this is a good example of an issue where stakeholder collaboration will be critical to the development of solutions 

and the acceptance and implementation of security protocols. My 

hope is that Admiral Pekoske will work to promote relationships 

with the private sector and create a culture at TSA that embraces 

innovative approaches to security. 

In the surface transportation sector, a long-standing challenge 

for TSA has been adopting a cross-cutting, risk-based approach to 

security across all modes. In April, the Committee held a markup 

on the Surface and Maritime Transportation Security Act, which I 

introduced with Ranking Member Nelson. Our bill would direct 

TSA to conduct an analysis across all modes of transportation for 

asset deployment, require the TSA apportion its budget on this 

3 

basis, and establish a Surface Transportation Advisory Committee 

similar to the Aviation Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The bill 

was reported favorably with bipartisan support, and we continue to 

work to ensure its eventual enactment. 

I was able to meet with Admiral Pekoske last week in advance 

of this hearing, and I believe that, if confirmed, he will provide important strategic and cultural continuity to TSA in much the same 

manner as his distinguished predecessor. I strongly support his 

nomination and I hope that we can move quickly to confirm it. 

With that, I will turn to our Ranking Member Senator Nelson for 

any remarks he would like to make. 

STATEMENT OF HON. BILL NELSON, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM FLORIDA 

Senator NELSON. Thanks, Mr. Chairman. And I agree with your 

comments, and therefore I’ll insert my comments in the record. I 

just want to thank the Admiral for his 33 years with the Coast 

Guard, which is a very professional team. And the members of this 

Committee are very proud of the Coast Guard. And since he had 

the whole West Coast, that includes all the way down to American 

Samoa all the way up to the Bering Sea in the Arctic area where 

the Coast Guard basically takes care of all of that area. 

One thing that we might look at in this ever-changing scene of 

technology and the threats to transportation safety is that wherever people bunch up, that’s a soft target. And we found, unfortunately, with Brussels and London, that that is outside the secured 

areas. And someplace I was the other day, I think it was at Grand 

Central Station, as people were getting ready to form the line to 

go through the gates to get on the train when the train arrived, 

and they don’t let you go in until the train has arrived so that you 

don’t clutter up the platform there by the tracks, I was thinking 

at the time, I mean, this is a bunch of Americans all massed up 

together. And this is stuff that you’ve got to worry about because 

it’s all part of our transportation safety. 

Surface transportation, the security of that surface transportation has been underfunded and unfocused, and the bill that we 

are looking at aims to fix that by enhancing risk-based security, requiring training to address the threats on our highways, closing 

gaps in port security, and providing funding to improve security at 

our rail stations and our seaports. 

Now, the bill does something very, very important, and that is 

it adds 200 K9 teams, and that is not only a powerful technological 

thing because nobody has been able to reproduce the sensitive 

sniffing of a dog, but it also provides a strong psychological deterrence as well. 

And on the FAA Extension, which passed a year ago, it included 

bipartisan provisions to better guard against terrorism threats and 

improve security screening. 

And I will just say in conclusion that I think the people that had 

advised the President were not giving the best advice when they 

recommended cutting the dog teams in the President’s proposed 

budget. Once you’re in the position, Admiral, you need to make 

what you know to be true well known at OMB and the White 

4 

House. And what we’re trying to do in the bill is increase the number of canine teams, called VIPR teams. 

So thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let’s hear from the witness. 

[The prepared statement of Senator Nelson follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. BILL NELSON, U.S. SENATOR FROM FLORIDA

Thank you Vice Admiral Pekoske for joining us today to discuss your nomination 

to be the next administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. And I 

want to thank you for your 33 years with the Coast Guard and your willingness 

to continue to serve our country. 

As you know, TSA is tasked with protecting our transportation systems and the 

traveling public, while also ensuring the flow of commerce. Though TSA is most visible to the public at commercial airports across the nation, the agency’s security responsibilities cut across all modes of transportation; including transit, railroads, 

pipelines, and maritime. 

As threats to our transportation systems evolve, TSA must respond to meet new 

challenges and anticipate future risk. 

For instance, the attacks this week in London and Brussels, as well as several 

others over the last few years, continue to ring the alarm that surface transportation security remains a serious threat. 

That’s why I worked with Chairman Thune and Senators Fischer and Booker to 

introduce the Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act. 

For too long, surface transportation security has been underfunded and unfocused. 

Our bill aims to fix that by enhancing risk-based security, requiring training to address threats on our highways, closing gaps in port security, and providing funding 

to improve security at our rail stations and ports. 

Importantly, the bill adds as many as 200 K9 teams, which provides a powerful 

psychological and physical deterrent to potential threats. 

Also, the FAA extension, which passed into law in July 2016, included bipartisan 

provisions to better guard against terrorism threats and improve security screening 

efficiency for travelers. 

For instance, it authorized TSA to double the number of TSA’s VIPR teams from 

30 to as many as 60 teams. It also expanded grant funding to assist law enforcement in preparing for and responding to mass casualty and active shooter incidents 

at airports and mass transit systems. 

TSA was also required to evaluate staffing, technology options, and checkpoint 

configurations to expedite passenger movement through security screening. This included efforts to expand TSA PreCheck. 

Now although the administration increases TSA’s overall budget from the previous Fiscal Year, it includes several proposals that could undermine security, including cutting the VIPR teams from 31 to 8, eliminating TSA staffing at airport 

exit lanes, and eliminating the Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program. 

Instead of cutting the tools that have proven most effective, I believe we should 

be focused on reexamining and bolstering our transportation security strategy. 

Vice Admiral Pekoske, I look forward to hearing how you will protect our citizens 

and our Nation’s vital transportation networks. And I hope that you will remain 

committed to visiting at least one of our Florida airports with me. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Nelson. 

And we are delighted to welcome Admiral David Pekoske, of 

Maryland. He is here as a nominee to be Assistant Secretary of 

Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration. 

So, Admiral, please proceed with your remarks, and we’ll look 

forward to, at the conclusion of those, asking you a few questions. 

So please proceed. 

STATEMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE, 

NOMINEE FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, 

Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson and distinguished 

5 

members of this Committee. It is a privilege to appear before you 

today as the President’s nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration. 

I am honored to have been nominated by President Trump for 

this very important national security position, and if confirmed, I 

look forward to the opportunity to work with Secretary Kelly, Deputy Secretary Duke, and the entire team at the Department of 

Homeland Security. 

My first comments today are in strong support of the men and 

women of the Transportation Security Administration. Each and 

every one contributes to the security of our Nation’s transportation 

system and works tirelessly to earn the trust and respect of the 

American people. Their work is critical to the security of our aviation and surface transportation systems, and they have, in my 

opinion, done an outstanding job in protecting us from an ever 

present and very dynamic threat. It would be my privilege to join 

them as their Administrator and bring my leadership, skills, and 

experience directly to the effort of securing our homeland. 

TSA could not accomplish its mission were it not for the strong 

partnerships it has with other Federal partners, state and local 

public safety and law enforcement agencies, the airline industry, 

the government services industry, airport owners and operators, 

and international partners. Throughout my professional career, I 

have seen firsthand the importance and enormous value of strong 

partnerships and professional relationships. This is the extended 

TSA team, and it would be my privilege to join them as well in our 

collective goal of ensuring transportation security in the United 

States. 

I had the high honor of serving our country in the United States 

Coast Guard for most of my adult life. I am forever grateful to my 

Coast Guard colleagues for their investment in my leadership and 

professional development. I have extensive experience in counterterrorism and security operations and in leading a large operating 

Federal agency that uses risk-based management. 

I was at the Coast Guard Commandant’s side on 9/11 as his executive assistant when the attacks on our homeland occurred. Like 

all of you, I will never forget that day and the days that immediately followed. I was privileged to remain as the Commandant’s 

executive assistant when the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security were established. 

In the summer of 2004, I served as the lead Federal official for 

maritime security at our first two national political conventions 

since 9/11, the Democratic National Convention in Boston and the 

Republican National Convention in New York City. Both were National Special Security Events, and our security operations across 

all Federal, state, and local agencies were very successful. Strong 

partnerships among law enforcement and public safety agencies 

are absolutely critical and are a very high priority for me. 

I served as the Assistant Commandant for Operations at Coast 

Guard headquarters, establishing service-wide policy for our security operations and regularly participated in discussions with the 

National Security Council staff and the operations deputies of the 

other military services. As Commander of the Pacific area, I was 

responsible for all Coast Guard operations on the West Coast of the 

6 

United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Given the vast expanse of the 

Pacific and our national strategy of increasing emphasis on operations in the Pacific theater, I worked closely with the Coast 

Guards of Russia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Canada. I am 

a strong supporter of international engagement and international 

standard setting. Both can contribute substantially to the security 

of the United States. 

As Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, I served as the Vice 

Service Chief, the Chief Operating Office, and the Coast Guard Acquisition Executive responsible to train, equip, and organize a 

Coast Guard force of over 50,000 people. In addition, I was the execution champion for the Coast Guard Innovation Program, one of 

the most well-established innovation programs in government. 

Should I be confirmed as TSA Administrator, innovation will be 

one of my key focus areas. I think it is critical in continuing to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of TSA operations. 

Following my Coast Guard service, I joined a very successful 

mid-market company in the government services industry. My experience in the private sector was very valuable, and I learned how 

government can be a better consumer of private sector expertise 

and support. 

My experience in the Coast Guard and in the private sector is 

directly relevant to the position of TSA Administrator. Today, we 

face a multitude of threats that are persistent and ever evolving. 

We know that certain terrorist organizations remain focused on 

commercial aviation and disrupting the freedoms we enjoy as an 

open society. Staying ahead of these threats and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place will continue to be TSA’s most significant challenge. 

If confirmed, it will be my honor to serve in what I consider to 

be one of the most challenging jobs in government. My overarching 

goal would be to lead the TSA in an ever stronger position as an 

effective and efficient provider of security for our transportation 

systems, especially aviation, with a strong and growing level of 

public confidence in the agency’s mission performance. 

I will articulate a clear vision for TSA to ensure all of our efforts 

contribute to its achievement. My full intention is to serve as TSA 

Administrator, if confirmed, for as long as the President and the 

Secretary wish me to remain in this position. I think leadership 

continuity at TSA is very important. If confirmed, I would be the 

13th Administrator in 16 years, when you include those in an acting capacity. 

I’m always reminded of a quote of Alexander Hamilton when he, 

as our first Secretary of the Treasury, issued instructions to the 

commanding officers of the Revenue Cutters, which are the predecessors to the Coast Guard. Secretary Hamilton issued these instructions in 1791. He said in part, ‘‘They will always keep in mind 

that their countrymen are free men and, as such, are impatient of 

everything that bears the least mark of a domineering spirit. They 

will, therefore, refrain, with the most guarded circumspection, from 

whatever has a semblance of haughtiness, rudeness, or insult.’’ I 

think that sage advice from one of our country’s Founding Fathers 

applies to all Federal officials involved in law enforcement and seVerDate Nov 24 2008 08:06 Jun 04, 2018 Jkt 075679 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6601 S:\GPO\DOCS\29976.TXT JACKIE
7 

curity operations today. It is something that will guide me if I am 

so fortunate as to have the opportunity to lead the TSA. 

The TSA is the face of the Federal Government to millions of air 

travelers every day. These travelers rightfully expect effective and 

efficient screening with a minimum delay by government officials 

who treat them with respect. I will work diligently with the entire 

TSA workforce to ensure TSA continues to meet this standard. We 

must balance the demands of security with the imperatives of liberty guaranteed in our Constitution. 

In closing, I thank President Trump and Secretary Kelly for their 

confidence in my ability to lead TSA. Chairman Thune, Ranking 

Member Nelson, and distinguished members of this Committee, I 

thank you for your courtesies during this confirmation process and 

for the opportunity to appear before you today. And I look forward 

to answering your questions. 

Thank you, sir. 

[The prepared statement and biographical information of Admiral Pekoske follow:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE, NOMINEE FOR

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Good morning Chairman Thune, Ranking Member Nelson and distinguished 

members of this committee. It is a privilege to appear before you today as the President’s nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). I would 

like to thank President Trump for nominating me for this important national security position and I would like to also thank Secretary Kelly and Deputy Secretary 

Duke for their support during this process. 

My first comments today are in strong support of the men and women of the TSA. 

Each and every one contributes to the security of our Nation’s transportation system 

and works tirelessly to earn the trust and respect of the American people. Their 

work is critical to the security of our aviation and surface transportation systems 

and they have, in my opinion, done an outstanding job in protecting us from an ever 

present and very dynamic threat. It would be my privilege to join them as their Administrator and bring my leadership, skills and experience to the effort of securing 

our homeland. 

TSA could not accomplish its mission were it not for the strong partnerships it 

has with other Federal partners, state and local public safety and law enforcement 

agencies, the airline industry, the government services industry, airport owners and 

operators, and international partners. Throughout my professional career I have 

seen the importance and enormous value of strong partnerships and professional relationships. This is the extended TSA team and it would be my privilege to join 

them as well in our collective goal of ensuring transportation security in the United 

States. 

I had the high honor of serving our country in the United States Coast Guard 

for most of my adult life. I am forever grateful to my Coast Guard colleagues for 

their investment in my leadership and professional development. If confirmed, I 

would join Admiral Jim Loy and Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger as Coast Guard flag 

officers who have also served as Administrator. Both of them made significant contributions to the development of TSA and I welcome the opportunity to build on the 

foundation they and other Administrators have laid since the establishment of TSA 

by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. 

I have extensive experience in counter-terrorism and security operations and in 

leading a large operating Federal agency. I was at the Coast Guard Commandant’s 

side on 9/11 as his executive assistant when the attacks on our homeland occurred. 

Like you, I will never forget that day and the days that immediately followed. I was 

privileged to remain as the Commandant’s executive assistant when the TSA and 

the Department of Homeland Security were established. 

My first assignment as a Coast Guard flag officer was as Commander of the First 

Coast Guard District, with regional responsibility for all Coast Guard operations 

from Northern New Jersey to Maine. Within weeks of arriving in this position, I 

served as the lead Federal official for maritime security at our first two national 

8 

political conventions since 9/11, the Democratic National Convention in Boston and 

the Republican National Convention in New York City. As the District Commander, 

I had oversight of the Coast Guard’s maritime security operations in the ports of 

New York, New Jersey and Boston. We effectively managed risk and ensured the 

safe and secure flow of maritime commerce in these two ports. 

I served as the Assistant Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard headquarters, establishing service-wide policy for our security operations and regularly 

participating in discussions with the National Security Council staff and the operations deputies of the other military services. While the head of operations for the 

Coast Guard, we matured the development of Coast Guard deployable specialized 

forces that provided advanced counter-terrorism capability in our Nation’s ports and 

coastal areas. 

I returned to Coast Guard field operations as Commander of the Pacific Area. I 

was responsible for all Coast Guard operations on the west coast of the United 

States, Alaska and Hawaii. In addition, I was the operational commander of the 

Coast Guard’s polar icebreaker fleet with operations in the Arctic and Antarctic. 

Given the vast expanse of the Pacific and our national strategy of increasing emphasis on operations in the Pacific theater, I worked closely with the Coast Guards of 

Russia, China, South Korea, Japan and Canada. I am a strong supporter of international engagement and international standards setting. Both can contribute substantially to the security of the United States. 

As Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard I served as the Vice Service Chief, the 

Chief Operating Officer and the Coast Guard Acquisition Executive responsible to 

train, equip and organize a Coast Guard force of over 50,000 people. Both Coast 

Guard Area Commanders and the most senior headquarters staff (Deputy Commandant for Operations, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, the Assistant 

Commandant for Resources, The Judge Advocate General, and the Assistant Commandant for Governmental and Public Affairs) reported directly to me in this position. During this time, the Coast Guard responded to the Deepwater Horizon Oil 

Spill and I served as Acting Commandant when ADM Thad Allen became the National Incident Commander for Deepwater Horizon. In addition, I was the executive 

champion for the Coast Guard Innovation Program, one of the most well established 

innovation programs in government. Should I be confirmed as TSA Administrator, 

innovation will be one of my key focus areas. I think it is critical in continuing to 

improve the effectiveness and efficiency of TSA operations. 

Following my Coast Guard service, I joined a very successful mid-market company 

in the government services industry. We provided counter-terrorism services to components of the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security. Our expertise 

was in counter-improvised explosive devices. My experience in the private sector 

was very valuable, as I learned how government can be a better consumer of private 

sector expertise and support. In addition, I joined several interest groups that advocated for military, veterans and national security issues. I have been an instructor 

at the Naval Postgraduate School for several years, participating in a course on innovation for new flag/general officers and members of the Senior Executive Service. 

I have also been an adjunct faculty member at American University teaching a 

graduate course titled ‘‘Politics, Policymaking and Public Administration.’’ 

My experience in the Coast Guard and in the private sector is directly relevant 

to the mission of TSA. Today, we face a multitude of threats that are persistent and 

ever evolving. We know that certain terrorist organization remain focused on commercial aviation and disrupting the freedoms we enjoy as an open society. Staying 

ahead of these threats and ensuring the appropriate measures are in place will continue to be TSA’s most significant challenge. 

TSA is the face of the Federal Government to millions of travelers every day. 

These travelers rightful expect effective and efficient security with the minimum of 

delay by government officials who treat them with respect. I will work diligently 

with the entire TSA workforce to ensure we meet this standard. We must balance 

the demands of security with the imperatives of liberty guaranteed in our Constitution. 

If confirmed, it would be my honor to serve in of one of the most challenging jobs 

in government. My overarching goal would be to leave the TSA in an ever stronger 

position as an effective and efficient provider of security for our transportation systems, especially aviation, with a strong and growing level of public confidence in the 

agency’s mission performance. 

I am always reminded of a quote of Alexander Hamilton when he, as our first Secretary of the Treasury, issued instructions to the Commanding Officers of Revenue 

Cutters (predecessors to the Coast Guard) in 1791. He said, in part, ‘‘They will always keep in mind that their countrymen are freemen, and, as such are impatient 

of everything that bears the least mark of a domineering spirit. They will, therefore, 

9 

refrain, with the most guarded circumspection, from whatever has the semblance of 

haughtiness, rudeness, or insult.’’ I think this sage guidance from one our country’s 

founding fathers applies to all Federal officials involved in law enforcement and security operations today. It is something that will guide me if I am so fortunate as 

to have the opportunity to lead TSA. 

In closing, I thank President Trump and Secretary Kelly for their confidence in 

my ability to lead TSA. Chairman Thune, Ranking Member Nelson and distinguished members of this committee, I thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and look forward to answering your questions. 

A. BIOGRAPH1CAL INFORMATION

1. Name (Include any former names or nicknames used): David Peter Pekoske. 

2. Position to which nominated: Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration. 

3. Date of Nomination: June 6, 2017. 

4. Address (List current place of residence and office addresses): 

Residence: Information not released to the public. 

Office: Information not provided. 

5. Date and Place of Birth: May 5, 1955; Meriden. CT. 

6. Provide the name, position, and place of employment for your spouse (if married) and the names and ages of your children (including stepchildren and children 

by a previous marriage). 

Spouse: Michele R. Pekoske, maiden name Roy, not employed. 

Children: Matthew D. Pekoske, 31; Kristen M. Pekoske, 29; Corinne N. 

Pekoske, 25; Jillian E. Pekoske, 23. 

7. List all college and graduate degrees. Provide year and school attended. 

U.S. Coast Guard Academy, BS, 1977 

Columbia University, MPA, 1989 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MBA, 1997 

8. List all post-undergraduate employment, and highlight all management level 

jobs held and any non-managerial jobs that relate to the position for which you are 

nominated. 

U.S. Coast Guard Active Duty (1977–2010) 

Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound Executive Assistant to the Commandant 

Commander, First Coast Guard District Assistant Commandant for Operations 

Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area Vice Commandant 

A–T Solutions, Inc. 

Group President, National Security Solutions 

PAE, Inc. 

Vice President, National Programs 

American University 

Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, School of Public Affairs 

Naval Postgraduate School 

Instructor, Leading Innovation Program 

Frontier Security Strategies 

Expert (no work or income has been derived from this entity) 

9. Attach a copy of your resume ́. 

Please see the attached resume ́. 

10. List any advisory, consultative, honorary, or other part-time service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments, other than those listed above, within the last ten years. 

None with federal, state or local governments. 

11. List all positions held as an officer, director, trustee, partner, proprietor, 

agent, representative, or consultant of any corporation, company, firm, partnership, 

or other business, enterprise, educational, or other institution within the last ten 

years. 

I have held positions with the following organizations: 

• InfraGard National Members Alliance, Chairman of the Board and Board Member 

10 

• Jewish Institute for the National Security of America, Board of Advisors 

• Heroes Linked: Military Veterans Appreciation Trust Foundation, Board of Advisors 

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Naval Studies 

Board, Member 

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Member—Committee on Polar Icebreaker Cost Assessment 

• U. S. Global Leadership Coalition, Member, National Security Advisory Council 

• Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees Member 

• Association for Rescue at Sea, Board Member 

• Country Place Citizens Association, Chair, Covenants Committee 

• Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE), Vice President 

• A–T Solutions, Group President 

• Frontier Security Strategies, Expert 

12. Please list each membership you have had during the past ten years or currently hold with any civic, social, charitable, educational, political, professional, fraternal, benevolent or religious organization, private club, or other membership organization. Include dates of membership and any positions you have held with any organization. Please note whether any such club or organization restricts membership 

on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or handicap. 

Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association, 1977–Present, Member 

MIT Sloan Alumni Association, 1997–Present, Member 

Neither organization restricts membership on the basis listed in the question. 

13. Have you ever been a candidate for and/or held a public office (elected, nonelected, or appointed)? If so, indicate whether any campaign has any outstanding 

debt, the amount, and whether you are personally liable for that debt. 

l4. Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign organization political party) political action committee, or similar entity of $500 or more for the 

past ten years. Also list all offices you have held with, and services rendered to, a 

state or national political party or election committee during the same period, None, 

15. List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, honorary society memberships, military medals, and any other special recognition for outstanding service or 

achievements. 

Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal 

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards) 

Legion of Merit (2 awards) 

Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards) 

Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2 awards) 

Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4 awards) 

Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation (1 award) 

16. Please list each book, article, column, or publication you have authored, individually or with others. Also list any speeches that you have given on topics relevant to the position for which you have been nominated. Do not attach copies of 

these publications unless otherwise instructed. 

I have authored three articles: 

• ‘‘Maritime Security for our Nation’s Democratic Process,’’ Joint Center for Operational Analysis and Lessons Learned, Quarterly Bulletin, Volume VII, Issue 1, 

December 2004; 

• Marine Safety Program Editorial: Pacific Maritime Magazine, October, 2007; 

and 

• ‘‘Modernization and the Coast Guard Reserve,’’ Rudder Post Newsletter, November, 2008. 

Since my active duty CG service, I have spoken at a Maritime Security Conference in Miami and at a World Customs Organization IT Conference in Brisbane, 

Australia. Both speeches were on cross-border risk management. 

17. Please identify each instance in which you have testified orally or in writing 

before Congress in a governmental or non-governmental capacity and specify the 

date and subject matter of each testimony. 

11 

House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime 

and Global Counterterrorism: Hearing on Border Security, February 13, 2007 

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Hearing on the 

Implementation of the SAFE Port Act, October 4, 2007 

18. Given the current mission, major programs, and major operational objectives 

of the department/agency to which you have been nominated, what in your background or employment experience do you believe affirmatively qualifies you for appointment to the position for which you have been nominated, and why do you wish 

to serve in that position? 

• Performance in top leadership positions of a large operational agency in the Department of Homeland Security; 

• Experience in operational risk management and risk mitigation; 

• Crisis leadership; 

• Experience working with other federal, state and local law enforcement and 

public safety agencies; 

• Experience in working with industry and interest groups; 

• Knowledge of improvised explosive devices; and 

• Business experience in government services contracting. 

I am honored to be nominated by the President for the position of Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration. I wish to 

serve in this position because I bring seasoned executive level leadership that I will 

put to use to further improve TSA operations and position the agency for the future. 

This is a great opportunity to serve our country, lead the outstanding men and 

women serving in TSA and help protect the American people. 

19. What do you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to ensure that the 

depat1ment/agency has proper management and accounting controls, and what experience do you have in managing a large organization? 

If confirmed, I will be responsible for ensuring required management and accounting controls are being used at TSA. My most relevant experience in managing a 

large organization was my service as Vice Commandant. In that position I was the 

Coast Guard’s Vice service chief, Chief Operating Officer and Component Acquisition Executive. 

20. What do you believe to be the top three challenges facing the department/ 

agency, and why? 

The top three challenges, from my perspective as a nominee, are workforce engagement, innovation, and surface transportation security. 

Workforce Engagement. TSA is comprised of approximately 60,000 dedicated men 

and women who help ensure the security of our aviation and surface transpm1ation 

systems. The workforce must be responsive to the changing threat environment in 

providing effective and efficient security services. They represent the face of government to the traveling public and enjoy a public trust that their work makes air travel secure. I will place emphasis on training and leadership development of the TSA 

workforce with the goal of continued performance improvement and higher levels of 

employee satisfaction. 

Innovation. TSA has an innovation task force that formed a beneficial public-private partnership with industry, airports and airlines to foster innovation. This task 

force is working to identify and introduce technology solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of checkpoint security. This outstanding effort needs to continue to receive strong support from top leadership. In addition to technological solutions, this partnership can foster innovation on process improvements using existing and new technology. 

Surface Transportation Security. TSA’s role in surface transportation security is 

focused on security program oversight, system assessments, voluntary operator compliance with industry standards, collaborative law enforcement and security operations, and regulations. The risk to surface transportation needs to be continually 

evaluated as threats evolve. Surface transportation systems are vulnerable and a security incident can result in significant negative consequences. I will ensure TSA 

continues to place emphasis on surface transportation security. 

B. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation agreements, and 

other continuing dealings with business associates, clients, or customers. Please include information related to retirement accounts. 

12 

Pursuant to a separation agreement with PAE, I receive fixed biweekly payments 

that will continue through November, 2017. As part of the agreement, I agreed to 

cooperate with PAE in a specific litigation matter upon request and for which PAE 

will reimburse me for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such assistance with advance approval from PAE. 

I continue to participate in PAE’s 401 (k) defined contribution plan. The plan 

sponsor (PAE) no longer makes contributions. The sole underlying asset in this defined contribution plan is detailed in the Assets and Income section of my nominee 

Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e). 

As a Coast Guard retiree, I also receive monthly retirement payments from the 

Federal Government. 

2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal, to maintain 

employment, affiliation, or practice with any business, association or other organization during your appointment? If so, please explain. 

None except as described in 1 above. 

3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other relationships which 

could involve potential conflicts of interest in the position to which you have been 

nominated. None. 

4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial transaction which you 

have had during the last ten years, whether for yourself, on behalf of a client, or 

acting as an agent, that could in any way constitute or result in a possible conflict 

of interest in the position to which you have been nominated. 

In connection with the nomination process, I have consulted with the Office of 

Government Ethics and the Department of Homeland Security’s Designated Agency 

Ethics Official to identify potential conflicts of interest. Any potential conflicts of interest will be resolved in accordance with the terms of an ethics agreement that I 

have entered into with the Department’s Designated Agency Ethics Official and that 

has been provided to this Committee. I am not aware of any other potential conflicts 

of interest. 

5. Describe any activity during the past ten years in which you have been engaged 

for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and execution of law or public 

policy. None. 

6. Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest, including any 

that may be disclosed by your responses to the above items. 

I would obtain the advice of the agency or department ethics official and follow 

that advice. 

C. LEGAL MATTERS

1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics, professional misconduct, or retaliation by, or been the subject of a complaint to, any court, administrative agency, the Office of Special Counsel, professional association, disciplinary 

committee, or other professional group? If yes: 

a. Provide the name of agency, association, committee, or group; 

b. Provide the date the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or personnel action 

was issued or initiated; 

c. Describe the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or personnel action; 

d. Provide the results of the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or personnel 

action. 

No. 

2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged, or held by any Federal, 

State, or other law enforcement authority of any Federal, State, county, or municipal entity, other than for a minor traffic offense? If so, please explain. No. 

3. Have you or any business or nonprofit of which you are or were an officer ever 

been involved as a party in an administrative agency proceeding, criminal proceeding, or civil litigation? If so, please explain. No. 

4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo contendere) of 

any criminal violation other than a minor traffic offense? If so, please explain. No. 

5. Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, of sexual harassment or 

discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or any other basis? If so, please 

explain. 

There was a complaint of discrimination under the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967 initiated by an employee in 2005. A mediation process was implemented and all issues between the parties have been resolved. The agreement, 

signed on September 20, 2005, contains a confidentiality clause which prohibits divulging the details of the case. 

13 

6. Please advise the Committee of any additional information, favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be disclosed in connection with your nomination. 

None. 

D. RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMITTEE

1. Will you ensure that your department/agency complies with deadlines for information set by congressional committees? Yes. 

2. Will you ensure that your department/agency does whatever it can to protect 

congressional witnesses and whistle blowers from reprisal for their testimony and 

disclosures? Yes. 

3. Will you cooperate in providing the Committee with requested witnesses, including technical experts and career employees, with firsthand knowledge of matters 

of interest to the Committee? Yes. 

4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of 

the Congress on such occasions as you may be reasonably requested to do so? Yes. 

RESUME ́ OF DAVID P. PEKOSKE

Career Objective: Executive leadership position with a high growth/high impact organization 

Summary: Over six years of executive business experience leading a homeland security/intelligence government services business area with responsibility for revenue 

of $110 million and 13 percent year-over-year growth. Board Chairman of a national 

security related not-for-profit with over 35,000 members nation-wide. Extensive experience in military and Federal interagency operations based on over 30 years of 

Coast Guard service and continued strong relationships within government. Strong 

executive leadership, management and communications ability. Strengths include: 

• Strategy development 

• Operational leadership 

• Crisis management 

• Risk Assessment 

• Financial management 

• Team building 

Accomplishments 

Strategy development: Developed growth campaigns in the intelligence, software development and homeland security business areas that grew revenue even during periods of significant pressure on Federal appropriations. Led a board of directors in 

developing and implementing a national strategy to strengthen public-private sector 

partnerships to enhance critical infrastructure protection. 

Operational leadership: Executive responsibility for the execution of multiple U.S. 

and foreign government contracts and the achievement of business goals for revenue 

and profit. Led national planning effort for maritime security operations during the 

2004 national political nominating conventions in Boston and New York, the first 

since 9/11, directly contributing to the overall security success of both events. 

Crisis management: Principal Federal Official for a national level counter-terrorism exercise that strengthened industry-government partnership and led to approval of a national response framework for crisis response. 

Risk assessment: Led the improvement of cross-border risk management tools for 

vessels and cargo that are in use around the world. Matured U.S. Government Maritime Security Risk Assessment Management tool that consistently assesses risk in 

ports, identifying where greatest risk buy-down can occur, making security more effective and efficient. 

Financial management: Expertly managed a profit and loss (P&L) business area. 

Demonstrated ability to improve return on sales performance and achieve organic 

and new business growth. As the Coast Guard’s Component Acquisition Executive, 

championed the development and execution of an annual acquisition budget that exceeded $1 billion in the largest major asset recapitalization in Coast Guard history. 

Team building: Successfully integrated business areas from two separate companies 

into a third larger company. Skillfully integrated the acquisition of a niche technology company into a larger national security services business. Co-chaired a NaVerDate Nov 24 2008 08:06 Jun 04, 2018 Jkt 075679 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 S:\GPO\DOCS\29976.TXT JACKIE
14 

tional Security Council working group that developed policy choices and coordinated 

U.S. Government planning for a potential mass migration from Cuba. 

Recent Employment History 

Vice President, National Programs, PAE, (2010–2016): Leads a business area focused on the intelligence and homeland security markets with responsibility for 

$110 million in revenue, $11 million in EBIT and 1,200 employees/consultants. Was 

formerly a business unit president for a similar customer base with A–T Solutions 

prior to its acquisition in 2015 by PAE. 

Vice Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. (2009–2010): Second-incommand of the U.S. Coast Guard, an 88,000-person military service/federal agency 

with a $10.5 billion annual appropriation. Chief Operating Officer and Component 

Acquisition Executive. First line supervisor of CFO. Managed executive development, assignments and evaluations. 

Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, Alameda, CA (2008–2009): Operational commander for all Coast Guard operations in the Pacific, the Arctic and the Antarctic. 

Led the development of two new national commands, the Deployable Operations 

Group and the Force Readiness Command. 

Assistant Commandant for Operations, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. (2006 

–2008): Policy and resource responsibility for all of the Coast Guard’s operating programs. Chaired the Coast Guard Awards Board. Co-chaired the Cuba Migration 

Work Group, National Security Council. Chaired a DHS committee reporting to the 

Deputy Secretary that made significant improvements to operations coordination 

across all of the DHS operating components. 

Commander, First Coast Guard District, Boston, MA (2004–2006): Operational commander for all northeastern U.S. operational units. Pre-designated Principal Federal 

Official for hurricane preparedness and response in the Northeast. 

Military bio available at: 

http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/Flags/VCG/PekoskeDavidP_Bio.pdf 

Education 

Master of Business Administration, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Master of Public Administration, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University 

Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering, U.S. Coast Guard Academy 

Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI 

Boards and Associations 

Member, Naval Studies Board, National Academies, 2013–Pres. 

Chairman, InfraGard National Members Alliance Board of Directors (a 35,000 member 501 (c) (3)), 2012–2015 

Member, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, National Security Advisory Council, 

2013–Pres. 

Member, Association for Rescue at Sea Board of Directors, 2015–Pres. Member, Heroes Linked Advisory Board, 2015–Pres. 

Member, Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs Board of Advisors, 2013–Pres. 

Member, Adjunct Faculty, American University School of Public Affairs, 2012–Pres. 

Instructor, Naval Postgraduate School Center for Executive Education, 2008–Pres. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Admiral. We appreciate very much 

your willingness to serve in what is a critically important position. 

And we look forward to working with you to meet the challenges 

that we have ahead of us. 

Let me start by asking a question about the PreCheck program 

at TSA in which I, and I assume a number of the Members of this 

panel, participate. It’s a valuable risk-based security measure that 

provides expedited checkpoint screening at airports for low-risk 

trusted travelers. 

15 

Last year, we included a provision in the FAA Extension to 

strengthen TSA’s faltering efforts to expand the PreCheck Application program and enroll more vetted travelers. Since enactment, 

the TSA has not implemented key elements required under the 

law, such as soliciting multiple private sector enrollment options or 

identifying a specific time-frame and long-term strategy for approving private sector marketing and PreCheck. 

So the question, Admiral, is, do you believe it’s important to expand PreCheck enrollment opportunities for the traveling public so 

that more trusted travelers are flying our skies and the TSA can 

therefore focus on screening high-risk travelers? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Mr. Chairman, yes, I do. I am also a 

PreCheck participant. I think it’s a terrific program. About 5 million of our travelers are enrolled in PreCheck, and then when you 

add in some of the other programs, you get up to about 8 million 

people. But that only accounts for maybe 18 or 20 percent of the 

traveling public, which is way too low in my opinion. If confirmed, 

I’m going to take a close look at the recommendations that the 

Committee has made, was passed in law, and do everything we can 

to make enrollment easier for people, encourage enrollment, and 

ensure that the incentives for PreCheck are clear and evident to 

travelers as they go through the queue, sir. 

The CHAIRMAN. And so that’s what I want, the follow up is, will 

you commit to fulfilling the directives from Congress regarding this 

program in a timely manner and then update our Committee on 

how TSA will expand PreCheck under your leadership? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, I commit to doing that. 

The CHAIRMAN. TSA’s primary focus has been aviation security. 

However, threats have continued to evolve, and soft targets and 

open environments, such as train stations, have become an area of 

increasing concern. If confirmed, how would you seek to address 

these security challenges without impeding the flow of passengers 

and commerce? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Sir, we’re reminded nearly every day now of 

the risks in the surface transportation mode and also the risks in 

the aviation mode. And from my perspective, if confirmed, I would 

absolutely bring that risk-based approach to weighing how resources are allocated amongst the different modes of transportation. 

When I look at the risk in any particular transportation mode, 

I look at three things: I look at the threat, the vulnerability, and 

the consequence should an incident occur. I can see the vulnerability and the consequence absolutely in the surface transportation side. I don’t yet have the intelligence briefings that would 

help me evaluate the threat, but I intend to do that very quickly 

if confirmed and take a very close look at that. That is a key priority of mine. 

I’m a user of mass transit and I just think we need to reassure 

ourselves of a very dynamic, a very moving threat picture, and 

make sure that we’re applying resources in the right locations. 

The CHAIRMAN. Historically, TSA has experienced difficulties in 

retaining full-time security officers. Staffing levels fell by more 

than 4,600 from 2013 to 2016 while passenger volumes during the 

16 

same time period rose by approximately 15 percent. If confirmed, 

what would you do to increase the retention rates at TSA? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Mr. Chairman, if confirmed, looking at the retention rates and the overall job satisfaction amongst the TSA 

workforce is one of my very top priorities. The TSA workforce, particularly at the front lines, are the front line of our organization. 

They interact with the American public day in and day out in the 

number of millions of interactions. I think that continuing the efforts of Administrator Neffenger in that regard would be very appropriate, providing training, providing some sense of what a career path in TSA would look like for our frontline officials, a career 

path in other elements of the Department of Homeland Security as 

well would be very important. 

The bottom line, though, from my perspective, having worked 

with a widely dispersed workforce in the Coast Guard of similar 

size, it’s very important for top leadership to be present with that 

workforce to understand what challenges they have in accomplishing their job and to support them in good procedures, seek 

their input, provide appropriate technology out there, but really 

understand the challenges that that frontline workforce is facing. 

Finally, I would say that an attrition rate that approaches 12 

percent for the full-time workforce costs a lot of money, and it also 

reduces the effectiveness of the agency because you lose that experience base going forward. And so increased retention and job satisfaction are absolute top priorities of mine. 

The CHAIRMAN. Great. Recent terror threats to commercial aviation resulted in a ban on certain carry-on electronic devices for individuals traveling from select airports to the United States. And 

as I noted in my opening remarks, this ban and the debate about 

whether to expand it demonstrate both the urgent need to work 

with our aviation partners and to quickly deploy advanced security 

technology to combat the latest threats. Unfortunately, it currently 

takes TSA many years to test, evaluate, procure, and deploy new 

technologies. 

How will you prioritize deploying the latest security technology 

quickly and effectively? And will you work with Congress to bring 

any ideas to the table from your private sector experience regarding ways that TSA could improve its efforts? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, I would absolutely work with Congress and bring my private sector experience to the table. I had a 

different perspective in the private sector and have a number of 

ways I think that government agencies can be much more responsive and get better value for their investment in private sector 

work. 

The TSA, as I understand it, has stood up an Innovation Task 

Force that has looked at various technologies to put in place at the 

screening locations. This is showing real promise, from what I understand. My experience in the Coast Guard Innovation is significant, and I would bring that experience to TSA in accelerating the 

work of the Innovation Task Force. I’ll throw my full support behind it, if confirmed, but also looking for input from the TSA workforce and stakeholders of TSA as to how we can improve our processes. We, in the Coast Guard, receive an awful lot of good recommendations, and basically use a crowdsourcing methodology to 

17 

beta test them, if you will, and I would look to bring some similar 

system like that in place in TSA, if confirmed, to get input from 

the workforce and from stakeholders on how we can better process 

people through screening points. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Admiral. 

Senator Nelson. 

Senator NELSON. Mr. Chairman, I think Senator Booker has an 

appointment that he needs to make, so let me defer to him for the 

questioning. 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Booker. 

STATEMENT OF HON. CORY BOOKER, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY 

Senator BOOKER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank 

you very much to my Ranking Member. 

I’ve been really concerned about within the 9/11 Report, they talk 

very specifically about the urgency around rail security in our 

country, but I haven’t seen sort of a coordinated plan coming out 

of TSA about allocating assets to rail safety and rail security. 

As you know, in September 2016, there were a series of attacks 

carried out in New York and New Jersey, including an incident involving pipe bombs found near Amtrak, a New Jersey Transit train 

station, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. There were incredible law enforcement leaders at that time who worked diligently. They located 

the pipe bombs. They were able to remove them before they could 

harm passengers. It was really a great tribute to law enforcement 

in the New Jersey community, but the incidents really underscore 

how vulnerable many of our surface transportation systems are to 

these threats. 

I don’t believe that we’re even complying with some of the directives that came out of the 9/11 Report, and it seems often we’re 

fighting the last terrorist attack or the last incident as opposed to 

looking about forward. And we see what’s happening in Europe 

where a number of attacks are focused on rail transportation. And 

the incident in Brussels obviously continues to highlight the need 

to address surface transportation security. 

So can you describe to me some of the ways that TSA, under 

your leadership, can address these security threats of surface 

transportation specifically with my concerns around the safety of 

rail transportation in our country? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. If confirmed, I would put a lot of effort in TSA into looking at the intelligence around the rail threat 

in particular. TSA has an exceptional intelligence and analysis operation. It’s very well coordinated with the intelligence community 

overall. And from my perspective, the intelligence community has 

done a very good job of keeping Americans safe, and really, as you 

said, looking at the threat that is next, not the threat that we just 

dealt with. So I would place a lot of emphasis, if confirmed, on 

looking at the threat for rail. 

And then in addition to that, great communication with the rail 

operators and the local law enforcement around those key rail 

transportation nodes so you can understand from their perspective 

what they see. They have their own sources of information, certainly valuable experience, that we could all benefit from. And this 

18 

is very much a collaborative effort, but I would place a lot of emphasis on really focusing intelligence to make sure that we’ve taken 

a good hard look at this and understand the risk. 

Senator BOOKER. OK. And then just specifically the 9/11 Report. 

It was actually way back in 2007. I wasn’t here then, but Congress 

passed legislation requiring the TSA and other agencies to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. What has been 

frustrating to me is that some of those recommendations have languished since 2007, like the training for frontline transit and 

freight employees. And this was an area of significant frustration 

for me when I came to the U.S. Senate, to see specific requirements 

from Congress not being fulfilled. 

And so can you commit to implementing the 9/11 requirements 

in order to ensure that we have more frontline employees protecting our surface transportation system? Even just the allocation 

of TSA resources, it’s so dramatically weighted toward air travel, 

which is critical and important, but even the 9/11 Commission indicated the concerns with surface transportation, and it seems to 

me—but, again, there were requirements for reporting of a plan, 

but it seems to me we should have a better investment in resources. 

And so I guess what I’m looking for is just a commitment on implementing the specific 9/11 requirements and the congressional 

legislation passed in 2007. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, you have my commitment to do that. 

And I would be happy to report back to you if confirmed on the status shortly after I get into office. 

Senator BOOKER. So I’m grateful. Just really quickly, port security is obviously something that’s very important to the state of 

New Jersey and is part of TSA’s mission. Would you also commit 

to ensuring me that major seaports like the Port Authority—like 

the Port of New York and New Jersey will have the resources and 

support to ensure secure movement of freight? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. The TSA works very closely with the 

Coast Guard, of which I’m very, very familiar. 

Senator BOOKER. Yes. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. And when I was the First District Commander, I had oversight of the captain of the port operations in the 

Port of New York and New Jersey, and I will commit to taking a 

very close and hard look at that to make sure that the TSA and 

Coast Guard coordination is what we would expect it to be. 

Senator BOOKER. Right. And no need to respond, but I’m just 

hoping that aspects like the VIPR team bomb-sniffing canines, 

something that we’ve had bipartisan support for, are really critical. 

And with my last 10 seconds, I just want to thank you for your 

willingness to continue to serve your country. It’s an extraordinary 

commitment that many Americans make. They don’t get the gratitude that they deserve. But I want you to know I’m grateful that 

you’re putting yourself up for this position and willing to subject 

yourself to questions like these. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you, Senator. I appreciate it. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Booker. 

Senator Inhofe. 

19 

STATEMENT OF HON. JIM INHOFE, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Admiral, first of all, I appreciate very much the time that you 

spent with me and with other members of this Committee prior to 

this hearing. And everyone knows how significant this is. I shared 

with you some personal experiences I’ve had with the Coast Guard, 

with what they have done, their expertise in the area that you are 

going to be involved in, even commenting that when I had occasion 

to fly a little airplane around the world, I found myself going from 

Coast Guard station to Coast Guard station because I knew what 

their missions were, and it’s so much more than just search and 

rescue. 

I think it would be worthwhile to run over a few things that the 

Coast Guard has been doing, because before it was popular, they 

were involved in this field. So what the Coast Guard has been 

doing in terms of its mission and then how you personally were involved in that. And then following that up on specifically what you 

were doing on 9/11 and so forth. 

Let’s start with the Coast Guard in general as a training ground 

for this job. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, thanks for the question. I think the 

Coast Guard is actually almost a perfect training ground for this 

job. And if you look at the similarities between what the Coast 

Guard does and what TSA does, it’s striking how similar the organizations are, both relying on a risk-based approach to providing 

the right resources at the right place at the right time. Both are 

law enforcement agencies. Both are regulatory agencies. Both are 

upscale. Coast Guard, 50,000-plus individuals all throughout the 

country, as you mentioned, at smaller stations, TSOs, and the Federal security director staffs all throughout the Nation, 440-someodd locations. And certainly both in the Department of Homeland 

Security originated in the Department of Transportation. 

I think, too, that both organizations rely heavily on intelligence 

information to kind of get ahead, as Senator Booker was mentioning, to get ahead of the next threat so that we’re there and 

ready to meet it, should it occur. 

And so I think really from those aspects of similarities with the 

organization, it’s a really good fit. 

Additionally, I would say that, to go to the Chairman’s question 

earlier, when you look at the TSA workforce, how can you really 

invest more heavily in that workforce? These folks are on the front 

line of our operations. In my view, my experience traveling over all 

the years since TSA has been established is I’ve never had a bad 

experience at a security checkpoint. I really respect very much the 

work that our individuals, should I be confirmed in TSA, perform 

day in and day out. 

What I think is needed, though, is more investment in them as 

individuals, in their training, and also in leadership overall within 

the organization. TSA is 16 years old. The Coast Guard is 226 

years old. And what I bring from the Coast Guard is a perspective 

of what a culture looks like that can be rapid response to a changing dynamic threat that can empower people at the lowest levels 

of the organization that are facing the American public and really 

20 

are the ones that make the decisions that mean success or failure 

for your mission overall. 

And so I am looking forward to joining the TSA workforce, if confirmed, as much as I enjoyed working with the Coast Guard workforce, which I enjoyed tremendously. 

With respect to the public area of security, TSA, as I understand 

it, has an initiative to look at public area security overall, has a 

framework in place to be able to do that, and is putting the resources and the time to ensure better coordination and to ensure 

some standardization, if you will, across the country at some basic 

level of performance. So I think there has been good work done in 

that regard as well. 

Senator INHOFE. Yes, I was going to ask you that you elaborate 

a little bit on 9/11, what you were doing at that time and—— 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. I was Admiral Loy’s executive assistant on 9/11. And as we can all remember, it was a beautiful day 

here in Washington, D.C. We had several meetings in the morning. 

Literally in the middle of one of those meetings we got the first reports that flashed across the TV monitor, and then from there on, 

it was a full-up response trying to assess the impact of what was 

going on. 

A couple of hours after the first attacks, of course, we heard and 

saw the impact on the Pentagon building. I can remember driving 

home that night, I lived in Northern Virginia at the time, driving 

right by the Pentagon and to see the Pentagon with smoke coming 

out of the structure was incredibly impactful for me because you 

really got to see and feel exactly what had happened. 

I learned a lot by watching Admiral Loy and Secretary Mineta 

respond to that incident. I think that they demonstrated what I 

would hope to be able to demonstrate, is in a crisis when you’re 

called on and you have to respond and you have to be really at the 

top of your profession in doing it, both of those gentlemen were. 

Senator INHOFE. And the reason I bring that up, because I’ve 

also had personal experience in the southern tip of Texas. Down 

there there’s one of your stations, in South Padre Island, Texas. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator INHOFE. Every time we’ve had some type of an incident 

come up or a threat of a terrorist attack, the very thing that you’ll 

be doing in your job, they were the first ones to respond. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator INHOFE. And I’ve been down there and I’ve actually seen 

them. And my time is expired, but just one word of caution. There 

will be a lot of people out there that would like to use an incident 

that may be isolated where some little old lady is being frisked or 

something, you know what is going to happen, and so you’re going 

to get ready for a media that’s not your best friend. They may be 

now, but they won’t be later on as this progresses. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator INHOFE. I look forward to working with you. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. Thank you, likewise. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Inhofe. 

Senator Masto. 

21 

STATEMENT OF HON. CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you. 

Admiral, it’s good to see you again. Thank you again for taking 

the time. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. And let me just say this. Like you, I was 

here during 9/11, I was actually working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and that has shaped my interactions as a prosecutor, not only 

here locally, but for the state of Nevada, and how we should be responding and our concerns with terrorist activity, not just in our 

states, but around the world. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. So I appreciate your comments. I want 

to jump back to the budget because we talked a little bit about 

that. You’re going to be having to work in an environment where 

there are budget cuts that are happening. And I will tell you I am 

concerned about the impact that those budget cuts are going to 

happen on the mission of the TSA if you are confirmed. So I want 

to talk a little bit about that. 

As a matter of policy, can you talk a little bit about your perspective on K9 units and how valuable those are to the mission of the 

TSA? I know we are including some funding to increase the K9 

units. Can you talk a little bit about that? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, Senator, I can. I am a very strong supporter of K9 teams. I think they are incredibly effective at detecting what they are trained to detect. And also, equally important in 

some ways, is they’re very effective in deterring activity wherever 

the canines are present. They’re very easy to see, and I think it deters behavior. It might signal a behavior detection officer to notice 

some response on the part of an individual in a public area where 

a K9 is operating. 

In the Coast Guard, we had K9 teams, a very small number, but 

we had K9 teams. We found them to be very effective for the work 

that we did. I will place high emphasis on K9 capability. I think 

it’s a very good investment for TSA. It’s a very good investment for 

the country. The challenge with K9 teams is it takes a long time 

to train them. It takes about a year to train the handler and the 

dog, but once they’re trained, they’re a team for many years. And 

I am a huge fan and will place continued emphasis on it. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. But I appreciate you saying that because I do have concerns with respect to the budget cuts. We are 

cutting TSA agents for the exit lane staffing. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. And can you address that? How will 

you—if those cuts go through, is that going to impact your mission? 

And how will you fill that gap? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, thank you. I was not involved, as you 

know, in those decisions. I saw the budget as the budget was released by the Administration back in May. If confirmed, I will get 

together with the TSA budget operation and really understand the 

rationale behind some of those budget actions. And I also commit 

to you and this Committee that as you do your work in the appropriations process and the review process, as the Senate and the 

22 

House do, we will be very responsive to information you may need 

to make judgments with respect to the budget in FY18. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you. And I would hope that you 

would commit to being an advocate for your staff, for the resources 

that you need, against any ill-advised spending cuts, particularly 

those that are going to be unfortunately used to build potentially 

a border wall or reinforce and take away from the mission of the 

TSA. I would hope you can commit to at least being an advocate 

for that. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, Senator, that’s a key aspect of my job, is 

to advocate for the agency to make sure we have the capability that 

we need to perform the mission that we’ve been tasked with performing, but knowing full well that there are going to be tradeoffs. 

There are affordability issues always, but my job is to advocate for 

what I think is best for TSA. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you. And, Admiral, can you talk 

just a little bit philosophically how you see the relationship and the 

responsibilities at the Federal level versus those at the local airports and how you envision that relationship moving forward? Obviously, what you do impacts a lot of our airports in many of our 

communities. And how do you plan on developing that relationship 

and what do you think it should look like? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, thank you for the question. I plan to 

invest an awful lot of time in developing relationships within TSA, 

with the TSA workforce, understanding what they deal with day in 

and day out, and how TSA can best support them in accomplishing 

the mission they need to perform. If confirmed, I will also spend 

a great deal of time with all the stakeholders for transportation security writ large, aviation and surface. So I want to know the partners. I know what issues they have and can consider that. 

And I think it’s important to have really good relationships in 

advance. If there’s an incident or something happens or people tend 

to get at odds, having a relationship in advance is critically important. And so I would invest significant time in the early part of my 

tenure at TSA, if confirmed, in getting to know all the stakeholders 

across the transportation systems and having a good relationship 

with them. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you. And then, finally, we had 

this discussion as well. Your TSA officers, they have discretion. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. And I would hope that you would be 

committed to adopting written policies and procedures and help 

guiding that discretion for those TSA officers and recognizing the 

importance of guiding that discretion. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, Senator, I think it’s really important to 

have guidance out there. And I also think it’s equally important 

that our officers on the front lines have a degree of discretion. 

When I was in their position as a much younger officer in the 

Coast Guard, I appreciated the discretion the organization gave 

me, but I had guidelines that I needed to follow because, you know, 

when you have a response to something, you need to make instant 

decisions. And I want the workforce to know, if confirmed, that 

they have the discretion within those guidelines to make the decisions they need to make. 

23 

Senator CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you, Admiral. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Masto. 

Senator Gardner. 

STATEMENT OF HON. CORY GARDNER, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM COLORADO 

Senator GARDNER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank you, Admiral Pekoske, for being here today. When Congress passed—the last Congress—the FAA Extension bill, it included legislation that I authored known at the SCREEN FAST 

Act. The bill established a pilot program at category X airports for 

the purpose of implementing innovative screening checkpoints to 

improve security of passenger throughput. Last week, TSA announced that it was moving forward with these pilot programs 

through implementation of a new security checkpoint at Denver 

International Airport checkpoint lane with innovative screening 

technology using biometric technology that had, quote, the potential to automate the travel document checking process. Obviously, 

these are pretty exciting possibilities and could mean a significant—make a significant difference in terms of the throughput of 

our airports. And so I would just hope we could get your commitment today for your continued implementation and work to continually implement the pilot programs outlined in SCREEN FAST at 

Denver International Airport and other airports across the country. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, you have that commitment. In fact, 

I’m very excited about those pilot programs. If confirmed, one of 

the things that I would want to take a look at is, what does the 

checkpoint of the future look like? And it would embed I think 

some of those ideas. But that would be to me a North Star, if you 

will, for the future of the organization. You could align your personnel strategies, your acquisition strategies, your innovation strategies, to get to that goal. So I agree with you 100 percent, sir, that 

the more we can embed technology, just try some things out. I 

mean, I think we should be willing to try some things out, and if 

they don’t work as envisioned, then we look at something else. But 

trying them out is important. 

Senator GARDNER. And there are a lot of airports like DIA and 

others around the country that have some pretty great facilities 

that would allow those testing projects, pilot programs, to occur. 

They have a lot of space and a lot of opportunity to really see how 

they can work and how they can be combined with TSA and airport 

initiatives. 

Speaking of Denver International Airport and the work they’re 

doing, obviously, if you travel there, you will see that in the Great 

Hall where they do the screening, you’ve got the upper level here 

where you can kind of sit, stand, take pictures looking down at everybody going through the checkpoints. You can take a look at who 

is doing what when it comes to security screening. You can take 

pictures of the monitors as the X-ray machines do their work. 

And so DIA recognizes, particularly in light of other tragic events 

around the globe, the need to make some security changes at the 

airport. And so they’re working on advanced security technologies 

24 

and talk about restructuring the main terminal building to move 

the security locations. 

And I would like your commitment to work with DIA and other 

airports to ensure that their checkpoints, their TSA checkpoints, 

are adequately funded, the transition process at DIA is smooth and 

on schedule with minimal disruption. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, you have that commitment. And I applaud their initiative, in looking at it. 

Senator GARDNER. Thank you. And in the TSA budget request, 

it includes a proposal to eliminate funding for the law enforcement 

office program, which reimburses airports for the law enforcement 

efforts that they put toward funding to complement TSA’s security 

presence. Airports in Colorado, like Colorado Springs Airport, have 

expressed concerns that these proposed cuts could hurt their ability 

to have local law enforcement partnerships with the Federal Government to keep these places safe and secure. So if confirmed, will 

you review the proposal to eliminate funding for the LEO office? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, if confirmed, I will certainly examine 

the proposal to eliminate funding. Secretary Kelly testified on this 

just recently, and I’ll just echo his comments that when those 

grants were first established, they were really never intended to be 

grants forever. It was intended to provide a boost when the program was first starting up. So I understand the rationale for what’s 

in the budget, but I will take a close look at it if confirmed. 

Senator GARDNER. Admiral Pekoske, thank you. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Gardner. 

Senator Nelson. 

Senator NELSON. Just a couple of questions here so we can get 

on with our members’ questions. Tell me, I mentioned in my opening remarks that the administration’s proposed budget cuts the 

VIPR teams. Since you are appointed by the administration, how 

are you going to get around this other than us increasing the VIPR 

teams in the legislation? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Sir, the budget proposal, as I understand it, 

reduces the VIPR teams from 31 to 8, so there are still some VIPR 

teams present. I have worked with VIPR teams in the past. I understand the value that they provide, not just to aviation transportation security, but also to surface transportation security. I will 

work very hard to understand if those cuts are implemented how 

TSA would best implement those and coordinate very closely with 

our stakeholders. 

But at the end of the day, I support the President’s budget, but 

I want to make sure that as the appropriations process proceeds, 

that Members of Congress have the information that they need to 

make their own assessment of what’s in the budget. 

Senator NELSON. Well, then basically, I hate to put it this way, 

but we’re going to have to save you from yourself. You know, last 

year we doubled the number of VIPR teams on the appropriate legislation, and everybody agreed with that. That was not a controversial issue. And now the President is taking the current set before 

they’ve ever been doubled and is cutting that, and that’s just not 

going to stand. 

25 

So I guess it’s going to have to be us rescuing you to not only 

double it as to what was provided last year, but even increase it 

further, because there is nothing like a dog as a deterrent, particularly in these areas where people are queuing up outside of security. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. And I agree with the risk of large 

congregations of people in any public space and what that presents. 

And I would say that my experience with the VIPR teams is very 

positive. I do think they have a very good effect on security. 

Senator NELSON. I just—I feel—I cringe for you that you have to 

support the President’s budget because you have to, when, in fact, 

everybody in this room knows that it ought to go the other way. 

Let me ask you about the DHS Inspector General conducted covert testing of TSA’s passenger screening technologies, and the results are classified, but the IG described the results as troubling 

and disappointing. And according to media reports, TSA airport 

screeners failed to detect explosives and weapons nearly 95 percent 

of the time. So the DHS IG has announced that he is now engaged 

in another round of covert testing. So what would you, when you 

get to be Administrator, do to correct the deficiencies that are 

noted in the IG report? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. If confirmed, one of the first things 

I’ll do is read the IG report. I haven’t been able to read the classified sections of that report. I know the report exists and have seen 

the media reports that you mentioned, sir. And I would just say as 

well that I appreciate the work the IG is doing. I think that’s a 

very valuable input into TSA operations, and I take to heart the 

IG recommendations, but will look very closely at the classified section of that report. 

Senator NELSON. OK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to give 

the opportunity to the members. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Nelson. 

Senator Sullivan. 

STATEMENT OF HON. DAN SULLIVAN, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA 

Senator SULLIVAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

And, Admiral, thank you for your willingness to serve. I think 

you have a great background. I think you’re very well qualified. I 

look forward to supporting your confirmation. I also appreciate 

your quote from Alexander Hamilton in your written statement. I 

think that that not just applies to you, but should apply to all of 

us, right? It’s a very useful quote when we’re thinking about public 

service and the privilege that we all have in serving our fellow 

Americans. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator SULLIVAN. I also appreciate just the focus in this hearing 

on the issues that you talked about in terms of personnel and retention and morale of the workforce. Like a lot of my colleagues, 

I travel a lot. I live in Anchorage, and I see the TSA officials literally a couple times a week, and I think overall we have outstanding men and women, you know, at least in my state, in Anchorage and Fairbanks, throughout the entire state. So I think addressing morale issues, as you say, you’re a young agency, is going 

26 

to be really important. Any sense on that? I know you’ve got to get 

on the ground and get a sense, but any sense right now how you 

want to do that? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. I think it’s critically important. And 

my sense right now, and based on my experience in the Coast 

Guard, is I think it’s critically important that the top leadership of 

an organization interact with, understand, walk in the shoes of—— 

Senator SULLIVAN. Yes. 

Admiral PEKOSKE.—their frontline employees. And it’s important 

that those frontline employees know you have their back. You’re 

providing them guidance. You want to seek their input as to how 

you do—you know, what kind of guidance should we provide you 

to do your job? But when they perform the job according to the 

guidance you provided, you stand behind those individuals because, 

as you know, sir, going through the check lines, everything is captured on video. 

Senator SULLIVAN. Yes. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. And oftentimes I assume that the TSA officers 

have followed the guidance that’s been provided, I just think they 

need to be properly backed up by their leadership throughout. So 

for me, it would be showing keen interest in what they’re doing, 

because that’s very genuine on my part. When I was in the Coast 

Guard, I spent the majority of my time in the field trying to understand how the mission was performing and what I could do, as one 

of the leaders of the organization, to make the folks that we charge 

with actually performing the mission more effective at performing 

it. 

Senator SULLIVAN. Great. Well, I think that’s going to be an important focus. 

We’ve talked about a number of areas in terms of security. I 

want to highlight three and then get a sense from you how you 

would prioritize these. 

So we’ve obviously talked about air travel. And Senator Nelson 

just mentioned the whole issue of soft targets outside the security 

perimeter, which I think is a big issue. Senator Booker talked a lot 

and the Chairman talked about mass transit, and I also share their 

concerns. Obviously, Alaska doesn’t have the kind of mass transit 

that New Jersey does, but it certainly looks like it’s a potential for 

a soft target that terrorists could take advantage of. 

One that does impact my state that I’d like your views on is critical infrastructure. You’ve spent time in Alaska. We have the 800- 

mile trans-Alaska pipeline that’s one of the most important pieces 

of energy infrastructure in the country. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator SULLIVAN. So how do you prioritize those three different 

areas—air travel, mass transit on the ground, and critical infrastructure—when you’re looking at your job responsibilities? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, that’s a significant challenge. And if 

confirmed, I would apply the same principles that we applied in the 

Coast Guard, which is what I understand TSA is doing right now, 

and that’s taking a risk-based approach to how resources are allocated. 

27 

Senator SULLIVAN. Do you think TSA is giving enough attention 

to critical infrastructure, not just the traveling elements, the transportation elements of the responsibilities of TSA? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. I don’t know the answer to that, but 

that’s one of the answers I want to get if confirmed to make sure 

that we are, because it’s looking across the entire transportation 

system, and you’ve got to have an effort to focus on all of that so 

you can make those risk-based judgments going forward. 

Senator SULLIVAN. Well, I’d like your views on that once you get 

confirmed. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator SULLIVAN. And, again, I look forward to supporting your 

confirmation. 

Let me finish with, you know, DHS is moving forward with the 

implementation of the REAL ID standards for air travel in 2018. 

And as states are working their way through compliance, how do 

you foresee getting ahead of trying to mitigate what are bound to 

be and in some circumstances are already happening, passenger 

confusion and frustration at airport screening checkpoints, that are 

going to result from that law? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. If confirmed, I think communications 

is critical to make sure that folks understand. I think the worst 

thing that could happen is somebody shows up at the airport, they 

tried to find the information and couldn’t find it somewhere. And 

so good communication is absolutely critical—— 

Senator SULLIVAN. Or that they know that they’ve got to come 

to the airport with certain IDs? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, that’s what I’m talking about. So that 

they know what IDs are acceptable at the airport. 

Senator SULLIVAN. OK. Well, I think having a focus on that is 

going to be important—— 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator SULLIVAN.—so we can mitigate a bottleneck across the 

country once that implementation happens. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. Absolutely. 

Senator SULLIVAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Sullivan. 

Senator Cantwell. 

STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON 

Senator CANTWELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

And, Mr. Pekoske, thank you for your willingness to serve. SeaTac Airport has been one of the fastest growing large hub airports 

in the United States for the last 3 years. It was designated to handle about 25 million passengers, but last year it handled 45 million 

passengers, and it’s going to continue to grow. So these issues of 

how we plan for security and efficiency are very critical to us. We 

have had many conversations, and TSA has been to Sea-Tac, tours, 

all of this, and has committed to adding additional staffing as the 

season demands, and I hope you would continue to do the same 

thing. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, Senator, I would. 

28 

Senator CANTWELL. Thank you. Then we will definitely be following up with you on details. 

OK. My colleague from Nevada brought up the K9 units and 

their effectiveness. To me, post what’s happened in international 

airports and our own facility, you mentioned deterrents, which I 

love the fact that these K9 units can be deterrents out in the outer 

perimeters of the airport, which is just a great added layer of security. And also they can help make for a more expedient line, which 

is one of the ways that we handle Sea-Tac because if you’re built 

for 25 million and you’re handling 45 million, you need some tools. 

And so they’ve been a very viable tool there. 

One of the ideas that we have been looking at, because I think 

nationally we need about 300 to 500 more K9 units, and the training does take a long time and the certification takes a long time. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator CANTWELL. What about looking at—would you be willing 

to look at information and material about doing some of this training in facilities outside of Laughlin if it meet Laughlin standards? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, absolutely. As long as it meets the standards, I think how it’s sourced is something we ought to take a look 

at. And as you mentioned, Senator, the supply is limited. And so 

if you have a desire to increase your capacity, you need to look at 

alternate sources of supply at the same time. 

Senator CANTWELL. Well, thank you for that. That’s a great commitment. And that’s where I am. And just for the record, I know 

that some airports are anxious. Our airport is willing to pay for 

this. Sea-Tac has seen the cost effectiveness and the security aspect 

of it. And just as they pay for other airport improvements, they’re 

willing to pay for this one. It’s not letting the Federal Government 

off of any hook, they’re just willing to help deal with the capacity 

issues. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Sure. 

Senator CANTWELL. So I hope that some of our colleagues would 

look at that as well and discuss with TSA this ability to give us 

more capacity. There is no better security than these dogs, no better security that we can get. So their ability to detect explosives, 

people talk about what happened in Brussels, you know, that a K9 

unit would have been able to target that activity well in advance. 

So I can’t emphasize enough how much I think we need to make 

this investment. So thank you for your willingness to do the same. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Cantwell. 

Senator Blumenthal. 

STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. Thanks, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank you for your service, and I appreciate you being here this 

morning. 

One troubling area of threat around the world, and certainly at 

our transportation facilities, is the use of everyday implements, vehicles, in causing the kinds of mass attacks that we’ve come to associate with other forms of weapons, use of vans, for example, most 

recently in Britain and Brussels. I wonder if you could share with 

29 

us your insights as to how those kinds of attacks can be prevented, 

if they can be, what TSA is doing to research this area of threat, 

and how you’re working with other agencies? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Sure. Senator, I don’t know specifically how 

TSA is dealing with this kind of threat right now, but if confirmed, 

I would certainly take a very close look at that. I’m going to make 

an assumption, though, based on what I know about intelligence 

operations in my Coast Guard experience, is that they are looking 

at threats writ large across the board and closely coordinating with 

Federal, state, and local agencies to gather information, and also 

through social media to see what’s on social media so they can get 

ahead of what might be chatted about on the World Wide Web. So, 

sir, I commit to you that I will take a very close look at that to 

ensure the intelligence is properly focused, if confirmed. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. Well, I hope you will. You know, it’s obviously an area of great urgency, and we tend to focus on the TSA 

screeners at the airports. And by the way, I want to join in thanking them for their service, as I do the Coast Guard. I try to thank 

the TSA screeners at the airports where I go. I have a feeling I’m 

in the minority of people they see in expressing my appreciation. 

But certainly they’re very dedicated, they have tough work to do, 

and they perform an important service—— 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL.—and you will be providing them with 

leadership. 

And I want to say that 2 years ago I asked your predecessor at 

his nomination hearing about the task that Senator Booker raised, 

the task of our rail and transit network, its vulnerability, and the 

recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. He committed to completing the task of requiring railroads to properly vet and train employees and have plans in place to prepare for and avert terrorist 

attacks at our rail and other transit facilities. 

Now we have a new administration and now the rules unfortunately are still languishing. But making matters worse, the new 

administration has pursued a regulatory freeze and a hiring freeze, 

which may have impacts on the ongoing effort to implement these 

programs. So my question to you is, are you committed to completing these congressional mandates? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, I am committed to going back and reexamining what the congressional mandate is so I understand it 

completely and getting a very thorough assessment as to where 

TSA is with respect to meeting those commitments. This is in law, 

so it’s something that TSA is bound to comply with. So I will take 

a very close look at that, sir, if confirmed. And then I would like 

to get on your schedule to come back and talk with you about it. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. I apologize that my schedule prevented us 

from getting together before now. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Sure. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. But I would welcome and be very eager to 

sit down with you. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Sure. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. Let me ask, finally, in the short remaining 

time I have, last month Homeland Security Secretary Kelly said in 

an interview, television interview, on Fox, and I’m paraphrasing, 

30 

that passengers are trying to avoid check bag fees, cramming their 

belongings into carry-on bags, and that makes it harder for the 

TSA to screen bags. And the full quote is people trying to avoid the 

$25 or $50 or whatever it is to check a bag are now stuffing your 

carry-on bags to the point of, well, they can’t get any more in there, 

so the more you stuff in there, the less TSA professionals that are 

looking at what’s in those bags through the monitors, they can’t tell 

what’s in the bags anymore, end of quote. Would you agree with 

that assessment? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. I would say guilty as charged. I do the same 

thing. I watch the TSA screeners try to make sense of what I have 

in my briefcase because I’ve got a lot of things in there, and I know 

it’s incredibly difficult for them to do it. They do a very good job 

of trying to discern what’s there. Oftentimes they have to refer to 

a supervisor to validate some of the conclusions they might make. 

But I agree with you, that there’s an incentive to bring your bag 

with you, and therefore you put everything that you can in that 

bag, and it makes it harder for the screeners. 

Sir, I also think that, if confirmed, we ought to look at the technology that might enable us to see better what’s in those bags 

knowing that that’s what passengers are doing. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. But there is a very low-tech solution here, 

which is to eliminate the bag fees. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. And to eliminate a lot of the incentive for 

people stuffing everything they own into the bags. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. That’s kind of obvious. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. And the only reason it hasn’t been adopted is that the airlines are making money from it, a lot of money. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. And so, as a matter of fact, Senator Markey and I have written to Secretary Kelly seeking additional information, and I hope that we can follow up with both you and him 

on this issue. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. And I wish you well in your new role, as 

a Connecticut native, born in Meriden—— 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL.—and raised in Southington, we would 

welcome you back. I hope you will come back and visit us—— 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you, sir. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL.—and the Coast Guard Academy, where 

you spent I hope a number of happy years. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. I did. I did. Except for the first 3 

months, everything else was very happy. I’m just kidding. It was 

a great experience. And actually I was assigned back in Connecticut for 2 years as the Captain of Port of Long Island Sound. 

Many members of my family are still in Connecticut. We’re up 

there often. So thank you, sir. 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. Great. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator—— 

31 

Senator BLUMENTHAL. Well, let me know when you visit. Thank 

you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Blumenthal. 

Senator Peters. 

STATEMENT OF HON. GARY PETERS, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN 

Senator PETERS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank you, Admiral Pekoske, for your testimony here today. In 

recent years, I know a number of airports have been putting substantial investments in their infrastructure in order to deal with 

safety, but threats continue to get more complex. You’re also getting increased threats in non-sterile areas as well. So I think there 

is certainly a tremendous need for additional security improvements from an infrastructure standpoint throughout airports. But 

I’ve heard from airports in my state of Michigan that when they 

talk to the FAA about funding airport security initiatives in their 

individual airports, the FAA always says it’s the responsibility of 

the TSA and then when they go talk to the TSA, the TSA says it’s 

the responsibility of the FAA. So they’re finding this kind of fingerpointing back and forth, pretty frustrating, as I do. 

I’m a member of this Committee which has jurisdiction over the 

TSA. I’m also a member of the Homeland Security Committee. So 

we’re going to try to work through this and find out how we can 

coordinate better to make the kind of necessary security improvements that we need to make. 

Right now I’m working on legislation that will allow airports to 

use the passenger facility charge that they collect for security infrastructure projects. I’d like to hear from you, if confirmed, would you 

ensure that the TSA does its part to help airports with security infrastructure projects? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. If confirmed, I think one of the first 

things to do is to make sure that people are brought to the table 

and talk with each other. At an airport, bring the TSA Federal Security Director, the FAA lead in that airport, and the airport authority together to have a conversation as to what each other’s 

roles and responsibilities are and expectations. So ideally they can 

all align and find a path forward. 

What I will commit to you, sir, is I will take a look, a very close 

look, at the issue. I am not familiar with the funding streams that 

would be associated with that, but I will certainly take a look at 

it, given that you’ve raised it, sir, and get back to you. 

Senator PETERS. Well, that was my second question, if you would 

support the creation of an airport security-focused grant program, 

something you probably aren’t prepared to answer now—— 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator PETERS.—but if confirmed, is that something that you 

would put some effort into? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir, I would definitely take a look at that 

potentiality. 

Senator PETERS. Do you support the House proposal that would 

redirect airline passenger security fees, which are right now used 

to offset unrelated government funding? Would you support bringing that back for aviation security purposes? 

32 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Sir, I support adequate funding for TSA overall. And however that funding arrives at TSA, whether it’s through 

fees or through appropriated funds, as long as I get the funding 

that is needed to provide the security that we’re charged in law to 

provide, I’m happy. 

Senator PETERS. The FAA Extension included a number of provisions to respond to insider threats and improve the screening of 

airport workers, such as requiring the recurrent vetting of airport 

workers as part of the FBI’s Rap Back program. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Mm-hmm. 

Senator PETERS. The Detroit Metropolitan Airport has been very 

proactive in implementing these requirements, and they’ve even 

gone further by rebadging all 18,000 employees every year, establishing a thorough and standardized inspection process for all the 

deliveries that are coming into the airport as well, which, of course, 

is a way to get contraband and dangerous articles into the airport. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator PETERS. What programs or improvements do you hope to 

implement to address the issue of insider threats, if confirmed? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. Insider threats are a significant 

issue. And I think a lot of good work has already been done in that 

regard. One is to increase the random screening of airport workers, 

not to the point yet of 100 percent screening. Some airports do, do 

that on their own. But from a TSA perspective, as I understand it, 

to increase the random frequency at which those workers are 

checked. 

The other thing, as I understand it from my briefings with TSA 

to get ready for this hearing, is that they’re trying to reduce the 

number of checkpoints so that the access points in the airport are 

fewer in number so that you can have greater control over the flow 

of workers back and forth. 

Senator PETERS. Very good. As you know, the TSA Screening 

Passengers by Observation program is designed to identify and engage individuals who may be high risk on the basis of their actions 

or verbal cues that TSA officers are watching. And I know it has 

been an important program for the detection and deterrence of individuals, but I also know that there are folks who believe that this 

can lead to racial profiling as a whole, and I’ve certainly heard individual complaints from folks, particularly in the greater Detroit 

area with a large Muslim American community that I represent. 

And although I’m aware that Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is 

also one of the most secure airports in the world, and they implement a variety of these techniques there, so it is a balance that we 

have to make. 

But I’m curious as to what your thoughts are on the TSA Screening Passengers by Observation program. Do you think it’s working? 

And how would you improve it if confirmed? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, sir. I don’t have enough information to be 

able to assess whether or not it’s working. Some information that 

I would get, if confirmed, and I get into the Agency and can better 

understand it. As I understand it, though, from public reports, that 

behavior detection officer function has been embedded with the regular TSA workforce as well, which makes to me a lot of good sense 

33 

because you’ve got more eyes looking at passengers as they’re going 

through. 

I do think, and I appreciate your comment about racial profiling 

or profiling of any nature, that’s something that we just don’t do. 

And I think if you get a report or a complaint in that regard, you 

need to look into it quickly to make sure that if it did happen, that 

you quickly adjust your procedures and your training to make sure 

it doesn’t recur. But unfortunately, that will happen on occasion. 

You just need to look at it quickly and address it right up front. 

Senator PETERS. Great. Thank you so much. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Peters. 

Senator HASSAN. Oh, sorry, Senator Klobuchar is back. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. No, no, no, I—— 

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Klobuchar is back, so she is—— 

STATEMENT OF HON. AMY KLOBUCHAR, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. That’s OK. OK. All right. We’ll spend all of 

our time going back and forth. That will be lovely. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Mr. Pekoske, thank you so much for being 

here, and the important work that needs to be done here. We recently had an all-Senator security briefing on threats to aviation 

security. You’re probably aware of that, including the recent laptop 

ban on flights from some of the international airports. As a TSA 

Administrator, you will oversee screening travelers and baggage for 

over 1.8 million passengers a day at 450 of our Nation’s airports. 

Given your military service and your experience in operational 

leadership, what do you think are the biggest challenges associated 

with aviation security? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, the biggest challenges in my view is, 

first and foremost, the training of the TSA workforce and the support of the TSA workforce. Those are the individuals who do an 

outstanding job, in my view, and if confirmed, I would look forward 

to joining them in this effort. But they need to have guidance that 

makes good sense. And I’m not saying that they don’t have it right 

now, it’s just something that I would look at because I haven’t been 

privy to that at this point in time. 

And also the discretion to make judgments on their part when 

they see something that might not fit for them. That’s very much 

a Coast Guard model. We place authority at the point of service delivery in the Coast Guard and give our young petty officers and 

young officers a lot of discretion as to how they apply the guidance 

that we provide. I think that’s important for the TSA workforce as 

well. Plus, as an individual, I kind of like that, I like people to give 

me some leeway into how I do my job. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Yes. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. So for me, an absolute focus on the workforce. 

And then second, Senator, would be a focus on giving the workforce 

the tools to best do the job, and that’s through the Innovation Task 

Force that I understand TSA has and has produced some good results, putting the technology in place that will make them more 

successful in their jobs. 

34 

You know, to give the example of the individual that screens 

carry-on baggage. I mean, when you look at those screens, if you 

get a chance to glimpse around and see that screen, it’s very hard 

to discern good versus bad within that image, and so providing 

some better equipment to make that job better and more effective 

for those individuals I think is critically important. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Right. And I would also add just the new 

technology that we keep testing it. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. We just are debuting something new at the 

Minneapolis Airport, Delta is doing it there in Atlanta, with facial 

recognition. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. And then also has some self-checking of 

bags. I don’t know. I read it, it looked complicated. I was like, ‘‘No!’’ 

But I think it’s good to try new things and—— 

[Laughter.] 

Senator KLOBUCHAR.—I don’t really mean that, it’s probably a 

good thing, but just trying to find those new things. I know you 

talked at length about VIPR teams, you and I have talked about 

that and how important that has been in our airports when we 

have those huge lines, nightmarish waits, and we were able to 

speed it up with Admiral Neffenger, and we were able to do some 

new things. It was a big change. 

And that leads me to the efficiency issue. According to the U.S. 

Travel Association, reducing TSA waits, you can do it without compromising security, which is, of course, our number one goal, security, and it could generate an additional $85 billion in travel, and 

which, of course, means a lot of jobs. 

Which areas of TSA operations do you think are opportunities to 

reduce traveler hassle without compromising security? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, I think one of the key ways would be 

to bring more people into the Trusted Traveler Program, whether 

it’s through PreCheck or Global Entry. That would be critical to 

improving the flow, but when you do that, you get more people into 

the TSA PreCheck lines, you’ve got to make sure that you process 

them through the lines expeditiously as well because you can’t 

have a longer queue in the PreCheck line than you have in the 

standard line and expect people to want to do that. 

So I think that bringing more people into those kinds of programs is really, really important. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. And I know—I think Senator Blumenthal 

may have asked you about this, but the Federal hiring freeze? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. How will the partial continuation of the 

hiring freeze affect our homeland security? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, as I understand the TSA budget, the 

impact on the hiring freeze is going to be mostly felt on the support 

end of TSA. And that helps the operations continue, but it does 

have—you know, I’ve watched this dynamic in the past in my 

Coast Guard service. At some point you can’t trim support too 

deeply because then you start to affect the ability of the frontline 

forces to get their job done, too. So it’s a very careful balance. 

But—— 

35 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Right. And you and I had a good discussion 

about the morale issue as well. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. Yes. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Just last question. General aviation industry, we have Cirrus that makes jets in Minnesota, and they use a 

few of them in South Dakota. Many of the TSA’s existing security 

guidelines rely heavily on the general aviation community to detect 

and report suspicious activity. For this strategy to be effective, it 

is important that pilots and airport personnel know who to contact 

with security concerns. What steps would you take to work with 

the general aviation community to improve security? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Well, I, first off, Senator, if confirmed, would 

make sure they know who to call. I mean, I think that’s pretty important. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. That’s a good beginning. We like that, a 

simple answer. That’s good. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. Right. And, you know, the Federal Security Directors, as I understand the structure, have responsibility 

for some of the smaller airports as well. That Federal Security Director, in my view, ought to be a visible presence on occasion at the 

smaller airports so people actually put a face to a name and know 

who it is. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. All right. I really appreciate your answers. 

Thank you very much. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Klobuchar. 

Now Senator Hassan. 

STATEMENT OF HON. MAGGIE HASSAN, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE 

Senator HASSAN. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, Admiral, it is very 

nice to see you again. Thank you for taking the time to come by 

my office. I appreciated your willingness to do that and our conversation very much. 

I would just add my voice as we talked a little bit about in that 

meeting to the request that you all take a look very closely at the 

impact of baggage fees on the way we do business and the cost to 

TSA, because the other concern I have, hearing the concerns of my 

colleagues, is that as people work to keep all their belongings with 

them to avoid the fees, it creates a lot of congestion, we’ve got more 

bags to check, and we’re really taking a cost through TSA on that 

perhaps should be borne by the airlines. 

So I would love it if you would continue to look at the impact of 

baggage fees on our security as well as convenience in operations. 

Which leads me to another issue that we touched on and colleagues have touched on here. We know that we’ve seen a number 

of troubling incidents of violence in the public areas of non-sterile 

areas of our airports, the Los Angeles incident in 2013 in which an 

active shooter killed five people—sorry, where an officer was killed, 

and then it was the Fort Lauderdale Airport where five people 

were killed in a baggage claim area. A year ago, suicide explosions 

occurred in the public areas of Brussels Airport and Istanbul 

Ataturk Airport, killed 61 people. 

36 

And you’ve heard questions from my colleagues about the reductions to VIPR teams and to grants to state and local law enforcement in the budget. What I would ask you to think about is that 

these soft areas of airports are really important. You know, the 

basic understanding I have of security is it’s always better to push 

the threat farther away. And so I will tell you, as a former Governor, if the local and state grants go away, you will see personnel 

reductions at our airports. It’s a fact, because there just aren’t the 

state and local budgets to match it. It may have started out as a 

boost to help people get up to speed after 9/11, but we’re dealing 

with an evolving threat all the time, and the need to change and 

coordinate across the country in our air traffic system is really an 

important one. 

So I would ask you, you weren’t part of developing this budget, 

I would ask you to stand up for that principle, that we have a national interest in protecting the soft areas of our airports and their 

perimeters, and that we really do need to help our local and state 

folks be partners with that. 

So I just hope you will commit to looking at that closely and 

standing up for that principle. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, yes, Senator, I will look at all of the 

things you’ve asked me to look at. TSA, as I understand it, has 

held some public area security summits, four so far this year, 

which are designed to look at the framework that was established 

for public area security, and then kind of talk through in individual 

airport situations how the various entities, the agencies, law enforcement, public safety, TSA would respond, for instance. So I 

think that’s really important to continue to exercise. 

And the other thing I would mention, Senator, is the use of 

what’s called advanced screening lanes, which is if you look at the 

screening process, there are certain obvious bottlenecks. 

Senator HASSAN. Right. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. One of the obvious bottlenecks, to me anyway, 

as a passenger is when the individual is looking to try to discern 

what’s in your checked bag. 

Senator HASSAN. Yes. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. The other one is as passengers try to put their 

bags on the conveyor belts, some take longer because they’re not 

as familiar or might have different things in their bags. 

Senator HASSAN. Yes. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. And so these advanced screening lanes, which 

I think are in 16 airports, as I recall, around the country allow that 

process to move faster as well. 

Senator HASSAN. That would be very helpful. The other thing I 

wanted to talk on, and I was at another hearing, so I may have 

missed somebody else asking this question, but I wanted to touch 

on, as I understand the FAA Extension bill from last Congress 

helped to increase the vetting of U.S. airport workers in order to 

prevent against insider threats. And you’ve talked a little bit about 

that. 

We obviously, though, don’t have complete authority over foreign 

airports. In two recent attacks, one at Mogadishu International 

Airport in Somalia in 2016 and one at Sharm El Sheikh Airport in 

37 

Egypt in 2015, foreign airport workers were believed to be 

complicit in aiding the attack. 

From your perspective, do you think foreign airports, especially 

those that are points of last departure to the United States, are effectively screening their workers in order to root out potential terrorist threats? 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, great question, and I don’t know the 

answer to that. 

Senator HASSAN. Yes. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. I haven’t delved into that, but if confirmed, I 

will certainly look at that. I know that that’s also something Secretary Kelly has looked at with respect to the laptop. 

Senator HASSAN. Yes. OK. Thank you very much. 

And thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Hassan. 

Senator Capito. 

STATEMENT OF HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA 

Senator CAPITO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Admiral Pekoske, for taking this I think daunting challenge really on, 

and I certainly will be supportive. And thank you for the visit to 

my office. When you were in my office, we talked about not only 

your long and very admirable Coast Guard history, which I’m very 

much in awe of, we talked about K9 teams, something I’ve become 

very interested in. 

In April, when we passed our legislation to ask TSA to develop 

a risk-based strategy, the bill included immediate expansion of additional K9 teams because they are such a reliable source. And I 

don’t know if you’ve addressed this issue before I got into the room, 

but I’m curious to know what your perspective on the effectiveness 

of K9 teams would be, but also I know through my work with the 

Capitol Police that the resources to acquire and whether there are 

enough canines to actually fulfill the desired needs is another 

issue. 

So could you just address that issue? And I think that would be 

very helpful in terms of all aspects of transportation, not just in the 

lines, but in the perimeter when people are getting dropped off to 

the airport. So if you could just talk about that a little bit. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes, thanks, Senator. And thank you for your 

time in your office. I greatly appreciate the time that you spent 

with me. 

With respect to canines, I have some experience with canines. 

The Coast Guard used a limited number of K9 teams in their Maritime Safety and Security Teams. From my perspective, they’re incredibly effective at detecting whatever it is the canine is trained 

to detect. And importantly, they’re also very effective in deterring. 

People see a K9, that either causes some behavior that people 

might notice or causes a person that might be thinking of doing 

something to not go through with it based on the canine. 

And I think you’re absolutely right, that the supply of canines 

are limited, and it takes, as I understand it, about a year to get 

the team trained. It’s the handler and the canine. Senator Cantwell 

asked me if we would consider other sources beyond the source 

38 

that we currently use, as I understand it, down at Laughlin Air 

Force Base, and that’s something that I’m hoping to explore if I’m 

confirmed, is to look at other sources of doing this, provided that 

they meet the same standard. 

But I agree with your comment completely, that they’re very effective at what they do. 

Senator CAPITO. I’d like to talk—and you touched on this a little 

bit as I’ve listened to your testimony, but I think, at least my impressions on certain occasions of going through the lines at the airports, that—this isn’t a universal thought, but I would imagine the 

challenge of the morale. You know, a TSA Agent on the front line 

right there has to be pretty patient because you’ve got elderly people, you’ve got kids, you have people who have never been through 

a line before, you’ve got people who are mad because their flight 

is late, and they’ve got an attitude, and then you’ve got everybody 

else, and maybe they’ve been waiting in line for 15, 20 minutes, 

and they’re tired of it. 

But I am concerned about the morale issue. How do you propose 

to address that? And has there been a deep dive into what the actual job satisfaction of a TSA agent is and what improvements 

could be made? I learned actually over in my Appropriations Committee that, believe it or not, Park Service personnel don’t like 

their job. And we all would think working at a national park would 

be something everybody would like to do. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Right. 

Senator CAPITO. So I’m curious to know, because I think this is 

a really important issue to be effective. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Senator, I couldn’t agree with you more. I 

think it’s one of the most important things for a potential Administrator of TSA to take a look at. And I think it’s critically important 

that the workforce views me, if I’m confirmed, as someone who understands the challenges that they face day in and day out beyond 

what a normal passenger going through the line will see. And I accept your points that it’s a hard job, and you’ve got to be right all 

the time. 

But I would reemphasize with the workforce, that what they do 

is so critically important, and I’m not—I think they need to be reminded of that day in and day out because I think if you’re doing 

it day in and day out, you might lose focus on it. 

Senator CAPITO. Right. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. They are, in many cases, the last line of defense for somebody getting through our security process because 

the gate check is really not much of a security check at all. And 

so I would, if confirmed, spend a lot of time with the frontline 

workforce, and I would want to make sure everything else TSA 

does enables that frontline workforce. They’re the ones that are the 

face of TSA. They’re the ones that are providing direct security 

both for aviation and for surface transportation in terms of guidance and support and inspections. 

I would just want to make sure that they are as supported as 

they need to be to get their job done, appreciated by the leadership, 

and have leadership that understands completely what they’re 

dealing with. So really good communications and presence I think 

are important. 

39 

The final thing I would add to that is top leadership interest is 

one thing, but you have to have interest throughout the entire line 

of leadership within an organization. And so their first-line supervisor has to be completely engaged with our employees and really 

trying to find out what will make them become more engaged in 

the workforce. I’m concerned with the survey results I see and 

some of the reports I see as well. 

Senator CAPITO. I appreciate that. And just a final comment. I 

know you’re going to be confirmed. After you’re confirmed, I’m sure 

you’re going to be traveling across the country to many airports. I 

would encourage you to go, and I’m sure you will, to go to the 

smaller rural airports to see the different challenges—— 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Yes. Right. 

Senator CAPITO.—and also to see how successful they are at 

meeting the challenges that they have in the smaller regional airports. So thank you very much. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thanks, Senator. I look forward to doing that. 

Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Capito. And you can start in 

South Dakota and West Virginia—right?—checking out those 

smaller airports where all the Park Service employees are very 

happy. It’s in Minnesota that they’re not happy, I think. 

[Laughter.] 

The CHAIRMAN. I think that’s everybody that we have, Admiral. 

So again welcome, and we appreciate so much your remarks this 

morning and your response to our questions and your willingness 

to serve our country in this very important role. And we hope to 

be able to move your nomination fairly quickly. 

And so given that, we’re going to keep the hearing record open 

until this Friday, June 23, in the next couple days. If Senators can 

get their questions for the record submitted as quickly as possible, 

and if you could respond as quickly as possible, we would like to 

be able to have you on our markup agenda next week. 

So I think with that, again thank you. We appreciate your cooperation and the cooperation of all the members of the Committee. 

And with that, this hearing is adjourned. 

Admiral PEKOSKE. Thank you, sir. 

[Whereupon, at 11:32 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.] 

(41) 

A P P E N D I X 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. DEB FISCHER TO

VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE

Question 1. I understand that some transportation facilities would like to use 

TWIC as part of their security plans. What do you think about the voluntary use 

of TWIC for other modes of transportation, such as pipelines, for facility security 

plans? 

Answer. I am open to exploring the use of TWIC as part of facility security plans. 

If confirmed, I will look closely into TSA’s work on this and would welcome the opportunity to discuss it further with you. 

Question 2. Attacks on rail carriers in France in 2015 and Brussels in 2016 highlight the vulnerabilities to our passenger rail systems. These systems are naturally 

open, which can make them soft targets. TSA does not directly manage passenger 

rail security, but provides support for passenger rail systems through training and 

exercise programs. In your opinion, how can we better protect and prepare passenger rail systems to lessen their vulnerability? 

Answer. In my opinion, we can better protect and prepare passenger rail systems 

through vulnerability assessments, security plans and exercises. Additionally, continued promotion of the ‘‘See Something/Say Something’’ campaign would enlist passengers’ help to provide information to security personnel for evaluation and response, if needed. 

Question 3. In your opinion, do the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response, 

or VIPR (pronounced Viper) teams add to our transportation security? 

Answer. VIPR teams augment the security of any mode of transportation and 

have been in use for over 10 years. In my opinion, they contribute to transportation 

security by augmenting response and deterrent capability, as part of an overall 

transportation security system. If confirmed, I look forward to briefings on the evolution of the use of VIPR teams. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. BILL NELSON TO

VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE

Recent Attacks. There has been a series of tragic terrorist attacks both abroad and 

here at home—from Belgium, France, and the U.K. to New York and New Jersey. 

In the last year, we have also experienced a tragic shooting at Fort Lauderdale’s 

airport and most recently a stabbing at Flint’s airport. These attacks and threats 

are alarm bells calling for us to reevaluate our transportation security systems in 

the face of an evolving and persistent terrorist threat. 

Question 1. What lessons have you learned in your career that will enable you 

to best prevent these attacks? 

Answer. In my career, I have learned that close cooperation and communication 

among agencies and stakeholders is critical to prevent security incidents from occurring and should they occur, to providing a rapid and coordinated response to the 

incident. I think intelligence analysis and sharing are very important to understanding the risk to transportation systems and contributing to the planning and 

exercising that are critical to overall transportation system security readiness. 

Question 2. What should the Federal Government be doing to prevent tragic surface transportation terrorist threats? 

Answer. The Federal Government should be assessing the threat and disseminating information as appropriate to state and local law enforcement agencies and 

facility owners and operators. In my opinion, the Federal Government should also 

allocate resources based on a careful assessment of the risks to all transportation 

modes. 

Funding for Surface Security. Experts have noted and international experience 

shows that the opportunity for attacks on maritime and surface transportation sysVerDate Nov 24 2008 08:06 Jun 04, 2018 Jkt 075679 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 S:\GPO\DOCS\29976.TXT JACKIE
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tems may be as great or greater than that of aviation. Yet less than two percent 

of TSA’s budget is devoted to protecting surface transportation. 

Question 3. Do the resources TSA directs to surface transportation adequately reflect the risks? 

Answer. If confirmed, I will assess TSA’s resource allocation to surface transportation security to determine whether relative resource allocation is appropriate, and 

work with the Administration to address funding priorities. 

Agency’s Challenges. Your predecessor was well regarded and led the agency 

through some difficult times—whether it was testy interactions with the public, long 

lines, or employment training and culture—while accomplishing the mission. 

Question 4. What do you think are the challenges the agency still faces and how 

will you continue to improve how the public views TSA and how TSA employees 

view themselves? 

Answer. TSA still faces challenges with employee satisfaction. This is reflected in 

workforce attrition rates and annual employee survey results. Perceived employee 

morale issues and relatively high employee attrition can affect employee performance and public confidence in the agency. The TSA workforce is critical to the agency’s mission success. If confirmed, I will place great emphasis on improving employee satisfaction, training, recognition, and leadership development. 

Technology and process improvements are being made. Accelerating the pace of 

these improvements to improve security effectiveness and efficiency would further 

improve public opinion. If confirmed, I will champion TSA innovation programs and 

a more rapid acquisition process. 

TSA Precheck enrollment rates need to be improved. This is good for security, the 

TSA workforce and travelers. If confirmed, I will review the TSA Precheck program 

to identify ways that traveler participation can be increased. 

TSA Dispute. I am aware of a dispute between TSA and SecurityPoint Media, a 

small business based in Florida that provides equipment and services to airport authorities around the country. TSA has decided to effectively block the company from 

expanding its operations beyond the forty airports that it currently services. 

Question 5. Will you commit to examining why TSA’s General Counsel has declined to revise its memorandum of understanding to allow airport authorities to 

contract with SecurityPoint Media and providing an update to the Committee? 

Answer. If confirmed, I will examine the issue and provide an update to the Committee. 

Responding to Congress. For Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty to conduct 

oversight, all members of Congress must have access to testimony, briefings, and 

other information from the executive branch. 

Question 6. Will you commit to promptly responding to all congressional requests 

for information, including requests from members in the minority? 

Answer. If confirmed, I will commit to being responsive to all requests from Congress. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTION SUBMITTED BY HON. BRIAN SCHATZ TO

VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE

Minority Members’ Oversight Requests. White House and the Office of Legal Counsel have recently asked Federal Government agencies to only answer oversight requests from committee chairmen, rather than all members of Congress, including 

the ranking member. 

Question. Do you personally commit to responding to oversight requests and letters from minority members of Congress in a timely manner? 

Answer. If confirmed, I will commit to being responsive to all Members of Congress. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. CORY BOOKER TO

VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE

Canines, VIPER Teams, Soft Targets, Funding 

Question 1. Mr. Pekoske, will you advocate for continued funding and use of 

bomb-sniffing K9 teams at airports around the country? 

Answer. If confirmed, I will advocate for K9 teams and allocate those teams based 

on security risks to airports and transportation hubs around the country. 

Question 2. I also strongly support funding for Visible Intermodal Prevention and 

Response (VIPR) teams, which are deployed by TSA in coordination with other intelVerDate Nov 24 2008 08:06 Jun 04, 2018 Jkt 075679 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 S:\GPO\DOCS\29976.TXT JACKIE
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ligence levels based on threats levels in order to improve safety. Do you support ensuring use of VIPR teams in reducing potential threats? 

Answer. I support the use of VIPR teams in reducing potential threats. 

Question 3. As you know, in 2016, extremely long TSA wait times plagued busy 

airports around the country including Newark Airport. While we have seen improvements, these recent problems indicate a lack of security resources at many of the 

busiest airports in the country. Can you commit to ensuring that TSA continues to 

work with me and my team to ensure that TSA has adequate staffing levels at Newark Airport? 

Answer. If confirmed, I commit to ensuring that TSA continues to work with you 

and your team to make the best use of currently available screening resources at 

airports around the country. I view the role of TSA Administrator as being a strong 

advocate for adequate resources to complete the mission of the agency. If confirmed, 

I look forward to working with you and your team to review the staffing levels at 

Newark Airport in light of actual and projected passenger throughput. 

Question 4. The Aviation Security Advisory Committee in 2015 identified the urgent need to better protect non-secure ‘‘soft target’’ areas of airports. Do you support 

ensuring that the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) are used for airport security, including securing ‘‘soft 

target’’ areas and for training exercises? 

Answer. If confirmed, I commit to thoroughly reviewing ASAC’s recommendations 

for non-secure ‘‘soft target’’ areas of airports. If confirmed, I would be pleased to follow up directly with you or your staff. 

Air Marshals 

Question 5. My office has received complaints from Federal Air Marshals about 

the way they are being scheduled and utilized. I have heard from some air marshals 

that they are often sleep deprived, leading to health problems and creating a situation where the air marshals could potentially not be at their best physically should 

a problem arise on a flight. I have also heard that air marshals suffer high rates 

of alcoholism and suicide. All of this seems very serious to me—if confirmed, would 

you make it a priority to look into the working conditions of our Federal air marshals? 

Answer. Yes, if confirmed, I will make it a priority to look into the working conditions of our Federal Air Marshals. 

TSA Precheck 

Question 6. The TSA indicates that higher rates of enrollment in TSA Precheck 

is an effective way to reduce wait times and improve security. Will you commit to 

work with me and my team to identify ways to increase participation in TSA 

PreCheck? 

Answer. Yes, if confirmed, increasing participation in TSA PreCheck would be a 

priority and I will commit to working with you and your team. 

TSA Morale 

Question 7. I was encouraged that in your questionnaire submitted to the committee you have indicated a commitment to prioritize workforce engagement. I often 

point out that while we always hear about any incidents where TSA staff have made 

mistakes, there is rarely any attention around the countless actions taken by dedicated transportation service officers to protect millions of Americans and save lives. 

Can you commit to work with me to find new ways to improve morale at TSA in 

part by making sure we do more to recognize the hard work of tens of thousands 

of dedicated transportation security officers around the country? 

Answer. If confirmed, I would welcome the opportunity to work with you in finding ways to improve the morale at TSA. Recognizing the strong dedication, high performance and hard work of the TSA workforce is very important and a key function 

of leadership in DHS and in Congress. 

RESPONSE TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH TO

VICE ADMIRAL DAVID P. PEKOSKE

Airport Law Enforcement Support. Vice Admiral Pekoske, thank you for your distinguished service to our country. Events like the shooting at the airport passenger 

terminal in Fort Lauderdale earlier this year and the 2013 airport shooting at LAX 

highlight the need for law enforcement presence and response capabilities in terminals and at passenger screening checkpoints. 

44 

Unfortunately, the President’s FY18 budget calls for elimination of the $45 million 

annual program that reimburses state and local law enforcement agencies for providing support at passenger checkpoints. 

Question 1. What challenges do you foresee in maintaining airport law enforcement support at current levels if Federal funding is eliminated as proposed? 

Answer. I think the challenges in maintaining airport law enforcement support 

at current levels, if Federal reimbursement is eliminated as proposed in the President’s FY18 budget request, will vary by local law enforcement jurisdiction. If confirmed, I will ensure TSA works closely with those law enforcement agencies, who 

are key partners, to mitigate the effect of any potential reductions in support. 

Question 2. As TSA Administrator, what is your plan to ensure that law enforcement presence at airports is not diminished and that TSA has adequate support at 

passenger screening checkpoints? 

Answer. If confirmed, I will review TSA’s, airport owners’ and operators’, and local 

law enforcement agencies’ efforts to provide adequate support at passenger screening checkpoints. I think the partnerships that exist within our airports are critical 

to providing security for all who use them. 

Security and Screening Efficiency. Concerns have been raised that increased numbers of carry-on bags and dense packing of those bags are significantly impacting 

screening efficiency and effectiveness. TSA has announced trial programs at selected 

airports that require passengers to remove books and other paper products, tablets 

and other electronic devices, and food items for separate screening. 

Question 3. In your opinion, how will TSA balance concerns regarding evolving 

terror threats with industry and passenger concerns over disruptions and airport 

checkpoint delays? 

Answer. In my opinion, TSA’s primary mission is to ensure that security operations are effective at countering the evolving terror threats. I understand industry 

and passenger concerns for efficient screening and, if confirmed, will work to ensure 

TSA operations remain effective and efficient through the use of intelligence information and process and technological innovation. Maximizing the use of trusted 

traveler programs, in my opinion, also provides a key means of achieving this balance. 

Question 4. From your perspective, what are the tradeoffs between security effectiveness and possible impacts on screening efficiency, passenger wait times, and 

TSA staffing and resources? 

Answer. From my perspective, all are interrelated. As a passenger, I want my 

travel to be secure while at the same time, I expect an efficient and professional 

workforce that is well trained and has the proper tools at hand to accomplish 

screening with efficiency. My personal experience as a traveler interacting with 

screening personnel is very positive and I greatly appreciate the work they do. As 

passenger volumes increase and threats continue to evolve, I believe continued investment in the TSA workforce is needed. This needs to be complemented by technological and process improvements in passenger screening to include increasing the 

number of pre-vetted trusted travelers. 

Risk-Based Approach. A September 2016 report by the DHS Inspector General 

concluded that TSA lacked an ‘‘intelligence driven, risk-based approach’’ for allocating budget resources across all transportation modes. This criticism was particularly directed toward the surface modes for which the TSA lacked a formal mechanism for funds to be allocated based on an assessment of the threat, vulnerabilities, 

and consequences of a terrorist attack. 

Question 5. In your opinion, how should TSA go about developing a risk-based approach to allocating resources among transportation modes? 

Answer. In my opinion, TSA should continue to mature the risk-based approach 

to allocating resources across all modes of transportation. It is my understanding 

that significant work is already underway within TSA on this approach. If confirmed, I will become very familiar with TSA’s current efforts and will be personally 

involved in its continued development. 

TWIC Program. In the aftermath of 9/11, Congress enacted the Maritime Transportation Security Act that, among other things, requires workers to undergo a security screening before being allowed into a seaport. TSA conducts the security screening and issues a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card to 

those who successfully pass the criminal history, immigration, and terrorist watch 

list checks. 

A 2016 Inspector General audit found that TSA appeared to be more concerned 

with customer service matters—like issuing the cards in a timely manner—than 

with careful scrutiny of applicants. It found that applicants believed to be providing 

fraudulent identification documents were nevertheless issued a TWIC. 

45 

In February 2016, Federal investigators announced that they had uncovered a 

‘‘document mill’’ producing fraudulent TWIC cards in Los Angeles. Congress enacted 

the Essential TWIC Assessment Act to improve TSA’s vetting process, including 

fraud detection. The law also requires DHS to commission an outside organization 

to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the benefits and costs of the TWIC card. 

Question 6. What is your view regarding the efficacy of the TWIC program and 

do you have ideas for improving it? 

Answer. In my opinion, program effectiveness is essential and I am very concerned with the reports cited above. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my 

ideas for improving the TWIC program with you after I have been able to look more 

closely at this matter. 

TSA Credentials for Veterans. I am also interested in helping servicemembers better transition to civilian life. A key component is making sure employers understand 

the skills and training of American Veterans and how these talents can increase efficiency in recruiting and hiring these individuals. For example, Veterans who are 

honorably discharged and possess an active security clearance should be eligible to 

obtain a TWIC card without TSA having to invest limited resources into a duplicative background investigation. Presumably, if our Nation already trusts these individual to properly handle classified information, we can also trust them to work in 

controlled access areas. 

Question 7. If confirmed, will you commit to working with me to ensure that TSA 

maximizes the use of increasingly scarce resources by ensuring that Veterans with 

the appropriate clearances are able to automatically, or through an expedited process, receive TSA credentials? 

Answer. I would welcome the opportunity to work with you on this, if confirmed. 

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