WASHINGTON, D.C. — David Cummins was sworn in as the eighth administrator of the Transportation Security Administration following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate, the agency announced.
President Donald Trump nominated Cummins in May to lead the TSA, which has approximately 60,000 employees and oversees security operations at more than 430 airports across the United States.
Under the direction of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Cummins will also have federal responsibility for security across the nation’s surface transportation systems, including railways, mass transit systems, highways, pipelines and maritime transportation.
“TSA will deliver on its role to secure the Golden Age of Travel the Trump administration has ushered in,” said Cummins. “We do not have to choose between a secure checkpoint, an efficient checkpoint, or an elevated experience. In fact, our mission demands that we achieve all three at once. That is President Trump’s and Secretary Mullin’s vision for the TSA, and it’s what the American people, rightfully, expect of this agency.”
Cummins identified several priorities for the agency, including improving workforce morale, deploying new technology at TSA checkpoints, providing travelers with information to reduce wait times and strengthening transportation networks against drone and cybersecurity threats.
According to the TSA, Cummins brings private-sector transportation experience that includes directing partnerships with federal, state and local governments in the United States and internationally. He has overseen strategy and acquisitions for transportation systems across 30 countries and has been co-awarded 12 patents.
Cummins also served as director of operations management for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he earned 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.
