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 in the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). On January 20, 2021, at the request of President Joe Biden, he became the senior official performing the duties of the deputy secretary of Homeland Security. From January 20, 2021 to February 2, 2021 he served as acting secretary of homeland security, during the Senate confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas.[3] He also served as acting deputy secretary from April to November 2019. Pekoske retired with 33 years of active military service in 2010 as the 26th vice commandant of the Coast Guard.[4]

David Pekoske
Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security
In office
January 20, 2021  February 2, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byPete Gaynor (acting)
Succeeded byAlejandro Mayorkas
Senior Official Performing the Duties of United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
Assumed office
January 20, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byKen Cuccinelli (acting)
In office
April 11, 2019  November 13, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byClaire Grady (acting)
Succeeded byKen Cuccinelli (acting)
7th Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
Assumed office
August 10, 2017
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
DeputyHuban A. Gowadia
Patricia Cogswell
Michael T. Miklos
Preceded byPeter V. Neffenger
Personal details
Born (1955-05-05) May 5, 1955
Meriden, Connecticut, U.S.
EducationUnited 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 service1977–2010
Rank Vice Admiral
CommandsVice 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/warsCold War
September 11, 2001 attacks
AwardsCoast 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 serves as the senior official performing the duties of TSA Adminstrator while Pekoske is serving as the acting deputy secretary from January 20, 2021.

Coast Guard service

26th Vice-Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

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

Administrator David Pekoske being ceremonially sworn in at DHS headquarters by Acting Secretary Elaine Duke.

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, 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 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, Pekokse 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, 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

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

  1. "Senate Commerce Committee Announces Hearing For TSA Administrator Nominee". Aero News Network. June 16, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  2. https://www.congress.gov/115/chrg/shrg29976/CHRG-115shrg29976.htm
  3. Megan Cassella (January 20, 2021). "Biden names his acting Cabinet". Politico. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. "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.
  5. "Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske Official Biography". Coast Guard News. August 9, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  6. Aratani, Lori (June 7, 2017). "Trump nominates David P. Pekoske to head TSA". Washington Post. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  7. "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.
  8. Aratani, Lori (June 7, 2017). "Trump nominates David P. Pekoske to head TSA". Washington Post. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  9. Burns, Bob (August 11, 2017). "Administrator David Pekoske is Officially on the Job!". TSA.gov. Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  10. "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[.]
  11. 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).
  12. "TSA supports security operations for the 59th Presidential Inauguration". TSA.gov. Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  13. "Security Operations". TSA.gov. Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  14. Wadlow, PO1 Kip. "Vice Commandant Change of Watch [Image 2 of 5]". US Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
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
2021
Succeeded by
Ken Cuccinelli
Acting
Preceded by
Ken Cuccinelli
Acting
Incumbent
Preceded by
Pete Gaynor
Acting
United States Secretary of Homeland Security
Acting

2021
Succeeded by
Alejandro Mayorkas
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