Friday, 12 December 2003
Military retains top post at the TSA
“Retired” former U.S. Navy Admiral David M. Stone has been appointed acting Administrator of the USA Transportation Security Administration. Ex-Admiral Stone replaces former Coast Guard Commandant and Admiral James M. Loy, who was promoted to the position of Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
Stone joined the TSA last year (with no disclosed background or knowledge whatsoever of civil aviation or transportation) as TSA director of security for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Despite still having a military officer in charge, the TSA is still considered, of course, a “civilian” agency under Stone’s acting command, as it was from its creation under Admiral Loy’s.
No one has yet been nominated as permanent TSA administrator, possibly because confirmation hearings for any such nominee would provide an opportunity for Senators to ask questions about privacy and civil liberties that the TSA and the Bush Administration have been trying to avoid. Senate aides have told me that written questions from Senators to the TSA concerning CAPPS-II and the government’s role in the use of jetBlue Airways reservation data haven’t been given even the courtesy of a reply — an unusual breech of protocol.
Link | Posted by Edward on Friday, 12 December 2003, 11:21 (11:21 AM)Will Stone stay or go? He leapfrogged the Chief of Staff, a former Air Force officer and Deputy Administrator. Inside the Beltway pundits say that TSA/DHS are reshuffling/reorganizing again.
Posted by: TAG, 7 February 2004, 19:20 ( 7:20 PM)I personally worked with RADM Stone when he was a LCDR/CDR. He was the Material Officer on CCDG-12, and I & 2 other Chief's worked with him in a 4 person office. We deployed together for a 6 month deployment, working side by side 16 hours+ a day, 7 days a week.
I can tell you that in 20 years in the Navy, I never knew a finer officer- a more people-oriented manager. He worked diligently in every position he got- and earned the promotions he got. I am proud to have known him- worked for him- and will always remember him as the finest Naval Officer I ever had the privelage of knowing. Those who knew him- who worked with him- for him would speak just as highly of him as well.
Wes James, ETC/USN (Ret)
