The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved the nomination of Erroll Southers to be assistant secretary for the Transportation Security Administration and the Senate has confirmed the nomination of Daniel Gordon to be the administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
Southers is currently an assistant chief for homeland security and intelligence at Los Angeles World Airports Police Department. DHS said Southers would bring interdisciplinary experience in public safety and homeland security to oversee efforts to protect highways, railroads, ports and mass transit systems, the security operations for 450 federalized airports throughout the United States and the Federal Air Marshal Service.
Unions have expressed hopes that the appointment of an assistant secretary at TSA would provide stability and present an opportunity to increase union participation.
"To this job, Mr. Southers brings the nearly three decades of experience in public safety, homeland security and intelligence he has earned working at all levels of government and in academia," said committee chair Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.
Dan Gordon has been working as GAO acting general counsel. The White House said he is expected to drive a number of contracting and workforce reforms announced in July focusing on streamlining acquisitions, managing the multi-sector workforce, and improving contractor performance.
Committee ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine applauded the nomination, crediting Gordon with "more than 20 years of private and public experience in the federal acquisition system ranging from litigating and adjudicating bid protests, to teaching about the federal procurement system at a law school," adding, "He is the right person for this critical job."