David Pekoske
David Pekoske | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 7th Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration | |
| Assumed office August 10, 2017** | |
| President | Donald Trump Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Huban A. Gowadia Patricia Cogswell Michael T. Miklos |
| Preceded by | Peter V. Neffenger |
| Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – June 24, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Ken Cuccinelli (acting) |
| Succeeded by | John Tien |
| In office April 11, 2019 – November 13, 2019 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Claire Grady (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ken Cuccinelli (acting) |
| Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – February 2, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Pete Gaynor (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Mayorkas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 5, 1955 Meriden, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Education | United States Coast Guard Academy (BS) Columbia University (MPA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1977–2010 |
| Rank |  Vice Admiral |
| Commands | Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations Commander, Pacific Area and Coast Guard Defense Forces West Commander, First Coast Guard District Commander, Group/MSO Long Island Sound |
| Battles/wars | Cold War September 11, 2001 attacks |
| Awards | Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) |
| *Patricia Cogswell served in an acting capacity while Pekoske was acting deputy secretary from April 11, 2019 – November 13, 2019. *Darby LaJoye served as the senior official performing the duties of TSA Administrator while Pekoske served as the acting deputy secretary from January to June 2021. | |
David Peter Pekoske[1] (born May 5, 1955)[2] is an American government official and retired U.S. Coast Guard vice admiral who has served as the seventh administrator of the Transportation Security Administration in the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since 2017. He served as the acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security from April to November 2019 and again from January to June 2021. From January 20, 2021 to February 2, 2021 he served as acting secretary of homeland security, during the Senate confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas.[3] Pekoske retired with 33 years of active military service in 2010 as the 26th vice commandant of the Coast Guard.[4]
Coast Guard service[]
Commissioned in 1977, Pekoske earned his Bachelor of Science degree in ocean engineering from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. He is a 1989 graduate of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University with a Master of Public Administration degree. Pekoske graduated from the MIT Sloan School of Management with an MBA Degree in 1997.[1] He served as a member of the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2008.
His 33-year career included a variety of operational and staff assignments and command of six Coast Guard operational units. He served on the west, gulf and east coasts of the United States and on the Great Lakes. Pekoske's operational expertise was in the operations ashore community. His staff expertise is in strategic planning, program analysis and budget development.
Pekoske served Executive Assistant to the Commandant from 2001 to 2004. From 1999 to 2001, he commanded Coast Guard Group/Marine Safety Office (now Sector) Long Island Sound, based in New Haven, Connecticut.
Flag assignments[]
Vice Admiral Pekoske served as Commander, Pacific Area/Coast Guard Defense Forces West in Alameda, California. He oversaw the operation of units performing missions in marine safety, maritime mobility, protection of natural resources, maritime security, homeland security and national defense in an Area of Operations encompassing over 73,000,000 square miles (190,000,000 km2) throughout the Pacific Basin and Far East. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters. From 2004 to 2006 he was Commander of the First Coast Guard District/Maritime Defense Command One headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.[5]
Vice-Commandant[]
Vice Admiral Pekoske served as Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from August 7, 2009 to May 24, 2010. As second in command to Admiral Thad Allen and Chief Operating Officer, Vice Admiral Pekoske executed the Commandant's strategic intent, managed internal organizational governance and served as the Component Acquisition Executive.[6]
TSA Administrator[]
On June 5, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he had nominated Pekoske as the seventh Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.[7][8]
On August 3, 2017, Pekoske was confirmed by the United States Senate as the next TSA administrator. On August 10, 2017, he was sworn in as TSA's seventh administrator.[9]
Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security[]
On April 11, 2019, Pekoske was designated as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary by Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan, making him the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Pekoske remained the TSA Administrator, but day-to-day operations of TSA were overseen by TSA's Acting Deputy Administrator, Patricia Cogswell.[10]
On November 13, 2019, with the appointment of Ken Cuccinelli as Acting Deputy Secretary, Pekoske returned to his duties TSA Administrator.[11]
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security[]
From January 20, 2021 to February 2, 2021, Pekoske was appointed Acting Secretary of Homeland Security by President Joe Biden, during the Senate confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas to the role.[3] While serving as Acting Secretary, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of TSA Administrator was Darby LaJoye,[12] TSA's Executive Assistant Administrator for Security Operations.[13]
Awards[]
His personal decorations include, among others, two awards of the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (2), the Legion of Merit (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (5), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4) and the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon.[14]
Advanced Boat Force Operations Insignia
Commandant Staff Badge
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Senate Commerce Committee Announces Hearing For TSA Administrator Nominee". Aero News Network. June 16, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ https://www.congress.gov/115/chrg/shrg29976/CHRG-115shrg29976.htm
- ^ Jump up to: a b Megan Cassella (January 20, 2021). "Biden names his acting Cabinet". Politico. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts" (Press release). Office of the Press Secretary. The White House. June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ^ "Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske Official Biography". Coast Guard News. August 9, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Aratani, Lori (June 7, 2017). "Trump nominates David P. Pekoske to head TSA". Washington Post. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov (Press release). June 5, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017 – via National Archives.
- ^ Aratani, Lori (June 7, 2017). "Trump nominates David P. Pekoske to head TSA". Washington Post. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Burns, Bob (August 11, 2017). "Administrator David Pekoske is Officially on the Job!". TSA.gov. Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ "Acting Secretary McAleenan Statement on the Designation of Administrator Pekoske to Serve as Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary". DHS.gov. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan designated David P. Pekoske, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator, senior official performing the duties of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary. Patricia Cogswell, TSA’s Acting Deputy Administrator, will oversee day-to-day operations at TSA[.]
- ^ Montoya-Galvez, Camilo (November 13, 2019). "Immigration hawk Ken Cuccinelli tapped as No. 2 at Homeland Security". CBS News. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
David Pekoske, the previous acting deputy director, will continue in his Senate-confirmed role as administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- ^ "TSA supports security operations for the 59th Presidential Inauguration". TSA.gov. Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Security Operations". TSA.gov. Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ Wadlow, PO1 Kip. "Vice Commandant Change of Watch [Image 2 of 5]". US Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
External links[]
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- 1955 births
- Biden administration cabinet members
- Living people
- MIT Sloan School of Management alumni
- Recipients of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Transportation Security Administration officials
- Trump administration personnel
- Biden administration personnel
- United States Coast Guard admirals
- Vice Commandants of the United States Coast Guard