WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today released the following statement after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole announced his retirement.

“As a friend of Administrator John Pistole, I am sorry to hear he will be moving on from the Transportation Security Administration. Throughout his career and as TSA Administrator, John Pistole has played a key role in making our country safer and more secure.

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with him as both a member of our nation’s intelligence community and as Chairman of the Commerce Committee, and I greatly admire his leadership and commitment to our shared national security goals. The work of TSA is often thankless, but Pistole has guided TSA in a positive direction during challenging times. Shifting TSA from a one size fits all approach to risk-based security has empowered the agency to provide the most effective security in the most efficient ways. His determination to train and develop TSA’s frontline employees into a counter-terrorism workforce will have lasting public safety benefits. Our transportation and aviation systems are certainly safer than ever before in large part thanks to Administrator Pistole and his steady leadership. All should be grateful for his dedicated service.”

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