AFGE TSOs Congratulate Southers on First Confirmation Hearing

Washington, D.C., Oct. 15, 2009 – Erroll Southers, the White House's nominee to be the next administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, appeared before the full Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today for the first of his two Senate confirmation hearings. 

During his testimony, Southers stressed the importance of investing in the workforce and providing them with appropriate training. He said he's committed to providing the TSA workforce with good leadership.

After the hearing, five Transportation Security Officers who are members of the American Federation of Government Employees were introduced to Southers, who greeted them warmly and told them he would go to TSO training himself.

"He was very informed about TSA and its issues," said AFGE Local 237 President Robert McNeil. "He also seemed to have a genuine interest in TSOs and our concerns." McNeil said the issue of collective bargaining never came up.

Southers currently serves as Los Angeles World Airports Police Department Assistant Chief for Homeland Security and Intelligence, where he helps manage the largest airport police department in the United States. He is also associate director of the University of Southern California's National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. Prior to joining the USC faculty, he was a police officer with the Santa Monica Police Department, an FBI agent, and deputy director of Homeland Security for the State of California.

His second and last hearing will be with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is expected in the next few weeks.