(The Associated Press circulated the following article by Leslie Miller on May 6.)
WASHINGTON — President Bush on Friday nominated Edmund “Kip” Hawley to be the fourth head of the Transportation Security Administration in as many years.
Hawley, a supply chain technology consultant, was one of the private businesspeople who helped the Bush administration start up the TSA after Congress created the agency in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Since its inception, the agency has been widely criticized over its spending and hiring practices and other problems.
The TSA had to reduce its workforce after Congress decided that 55,000 airport screeners was about 10,000 too many. Several government reports have said the screeners do a poor job detecting weapons and bombs in passengers’ baggage.
The agency also has experienced budget overruns and been accused of lavish spending, such as buying $500 in cheese displays for an anniversary party and paying $500,000 for artwork and silk plants.
The TSA’s current chief, David Stone, announced in April that he will leave the job in June.
The change comes as the new Homeland Security secretary, Michael Chertoff, is considering restructuring the entire department, which includes TSA.
Hawley is based in California and a member of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Services Committee.
He previously was vice president of transportation services for the Union Pacific Railroad.
“One reason this gentleman was picked is he has a technical background, a private sector background,” said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House aviation subcommittee. “We’re going to do a high-tech makeover, which will rely less on personnel and more on technology.”