David P Cummins has been sworn in as the eighth Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) following his confirmation by the Senate.
Cummins will lead a workforce of approximately 60,000 employees and have overall responsibility for security operations at more than 430 airports across the USA. Under the direction of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Cummins also has federal responsibility for the security of the nation’s surface transportation, including rail, mass transit systems, highways, pipelines and maritime.
Identifying his key priorities, Cummins highlighted improving workforce morale, rolling out new checkpoint technology, defending against drone and cyberattacks, and providing travelers with the information they need to get through security more quickly.
“We do not have to choose between a secure checkpoint, an efficient checkpoint or an elevated experience,” the new administrator said. “In fact, our mission demands that we achieve all three at once.”
In the private sector, Cummins directed partnerships with federal, state and local governments across the USA and globally, including during his time as a senior vice president at Serco. He has overseen strategy and acquisitions for transportation systems across 30 countries, leading business initiatives to improve efficiency and customer experience across multiple industries. He led numerous innovation projects and has been co-awarded 12 patents.
As the director of operations management for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Cummins earned the International Project of the Year Award from the Project Management Institute. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan Business School, an MA in international affairs from George Washington University and a BA in political science from Messiah University.
In related news, US government watchdog tells TSA to update its cybersecurity roadmap
