By SDCN Staff
WASHINGTON–David Cummins has been sworn in as the eighth administrator of the Transportation Security Administration following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
President Donald Trump nominated Cummins to lead the agency in May. As administrator, Cummins will oversee approximately 60,000 TSA employees and security operations at more than 430 airports nationwide.
The administrator also has federal responsibility for transportation security involving rail systems, mass transit, highways, pipelines and maritime transportation, under the Department of Homeland Security.
Cummins said his priorities will include improving employee morale, expanding the use of technology at airport security checkpoints, providing travelers with information intended to reduce wait times and strengthening transportation networks against drone and cyber threats.
“TSA will deliver on its role to secure the Golden Age of Travel,” Cummins said in a statement following his swearing-in. He said the agency should seek to maintain security while improving checkpoint efficiency and the passenger experience.
Cummins comes to TSA with experience in the transportation industry, including work with federal, state and local governments in the United States and abroad. According to TSA, he has been involved in transportation strategy and acquisitions covering systems in 30 countries.
He also has experience leading transportation-related innovation projects and has been awarded or co-awarded 12 patents.
Cummins previously served as director of operations management for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he received the International Project of the Year Award from the Project Management Institute.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Business School, a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Messiah University.
Cummins succeeds the previous TSA administrator and becomes the agency’s eighth leader since its creation following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
