David Pekoske
David Peter Pekoske[1] (born May 5, 1955)[2] is an American government official and retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral who currently serves as the seventh Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. He also served as acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from April to November 2019. He concluded his 33 years of active military service in 2010 as the 26th Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard.[3]
David Pekoske | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 7th Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration | |
| Assumed office August 10, 2017 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Huban A. Gowadia Patricia Cogswell |
| Preceded by | Peter V. Neffenger |
| Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office April 11, 2019 – November 13, 2019 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Claire Grady (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ken Cuccinelli (acting) |
| 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 |  |
| Branch/service |  |
| Years of service | 1977–2010 |
| Rank |  |
| 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. | |
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.[4]
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.[5]
TSA Administrator
On June 5, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he had nominated Pekoske as the seventh Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.[6][7]
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.[8]
Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
On April 11, 2019, Pekokse 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. Pekokse remains TSA Administrator, however, day to day operations of TSA are overseen by TSA’s Acting Deputy Administrator, Patricia Cogswell.[9]
On November 13, 2019, with the appointment of Ken Cuccinelli as Acting Deputy Secretary, Pekokse returned to his duties TSA Administrator.[10]
Awards
His personal decorations include, among others, 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.[11]
 | Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal |
  | Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal with gold award star |
 | Legion of Merit with gold award star |
  | Meritorious Service Medal with four gold award stars and the Operational Distinguishing Device. |
 | Coast Guard Commendation Medal with gold award star |
 | Coast Guard Achievement Medal with three gold award stars |
 | Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon |
References
- "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
- "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" (Press release). White House Press Secretary. June 5, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- 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". CBSNews.com. 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).
- 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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Wikimedia Commons has media related to David P. Pekoske. |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vivien Crea |
Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Sally Brice-O'Hara |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Huban A. Gowadia Acting |
Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration 2017–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Claire Grady Acting |
United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Acting 2019 |
Succeeded by Ken Cuccinelli Acting |
Authority control  |
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