REMARKS
FOR
THE
HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION
ANNOUNCEMENT
OF JIMMY
WOOTEN & MICHAEL RESTOVICH
FEDERAL
SECURITY DIRECTORS
DALLAS
– FORT WORTH AIRPORT, TEXAS
APRIL
14, 2002
2:00PM
Welcome everyone. Thank
you for coming.
We are here today to take another step forward in meeting the
challenges of the new normalcy.
In the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attacks of
September 11th, Congress decided to make aviation security, for the
first time, a direct responsibility of the federal government.
To carry out these new responsibilities, the statute creates a
Transportation Security Administration within the Department of Transportation.
Today, I am proud to announce our newest Federal Security
Directors. They will be in charge
of two of America’s most important airports.
These are the people who will serve as our field marshals in aviation
security.
Jimmy Wooten will be your Federal Security Director right
here at Dallas – Fort Worth International Airport, and Michael Restovich will
serve as the Federal Security Director at Love Field.
Quite frankly, we couldn’t have found better people for the
job. As many of you know, Jimmy
currently serves as the Division Director and Special Agent in Charge for the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms here in Dallas.
He brings over 31 years of law enforcement training and experience to the
job.
In addition, he is active in a variety of professional
associations, and he currently serves as the President of the National Native
American Law Enforcement Association.
Mike also has an extensive career in law enforcement.
He too brings 31 years of experience to the job.
He served in the United States Secret Service for 22 years, many of them
here in Dallas, and he has worked in a variety of security and risk management
capacities in the private sector as well.
These two local security executives will answer directly to
Under Secretary John W. Magaw, who heads up the new TSA.
We have designed the TSA as a flat, streamlined organization
– not one burdened by
bureaucracy.
These two fine law enforcement professionals will be on the
front lines in the war on terrorism.
They know they will need to get out from behind the desk, and
walk the halls of their airport, forming important partnerships with the airport
managers and personnel, and building on their existing relationships with local
and state law enforcement.
They will bring a hands-on approach to the job, making sure
that the changes in security work in the real world, and that our new federal
security screeners treat customers with the respect they deserve.
And, they know they have to hit the ground running.
In the weeks ahead, the TSA will roll-out new passenger
screening procedures across the country, consistent
procedures that will improve security and enhance customer service.
We have test-run these new procedures at Baltimore –
Washington International Airport with measurable success.
We cut wait times during peak hours from 20-plus minutes down
to 10 or 15 minutes. On the busiest
Saturday during the test period, we reduced the maximum wait to under 10
minutes.
We increased the throughput at the checkpoints by 40 percent,
and cut the maximum number of people in line at peak times by a third.
And, perhaps most importantly, we have improved the
travelers’ perception of the process significantly – 85% of
passengers rated the process a 6 or 7 on a 7-point scale, up from 73% before the
federal changes.
We fully expect that when we roll-out these new screening
procedures here in Dallas, we will see similar success.
All of this is good news for every traveler, but especially for the
business traveler, for whom time is money.
In his State of the Union speech last January, President Bush
laid out three pre-eminent goals for America: one –
winning the war against terrorism, both
at home and abroad; two
– protecting the homeland;
and three –
reviving the American economy.
All three goals depend on a safe, secure and efficient
aviation system, and we are counting on our Federal Security Directors to help
lead the way.
With their help, we will build a robust and redundant system
that provides world-class security and world-class customer service.
Today, I challenge our newest Federal Security Directors, and
the American public as a whole, to rise to our post-September 11th
mandate and mission. I know we are
up to the challenge.
Each of us has an obligation to embrace the changes at our
Nation’s airports, and to work together to make our skies not only safe, but
friendly once again. We have a big
job ahead of us, so gentlemen, let’s get to work.
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