Calif. security official named TSA administrator

Calif. security official named TSA administrator    Erroll G. Southers, assistant chief of homeland security and intelligence for Los Angeles World Airports, is President Barack Obama's choice to head the Transportation Security Administration, the White House announced Thursday.
   Southers helps manage the nation's largest airport police department, which is responsible for security at Los Angeles International Airport and three surrounding regional airports. He is in charge of emergency services, the canine unit, vulnerability assessments, critical infrastructure protection and anti-terrorism efforts.

Southers

   The TSA is best known for providing security at airports and screening passengers before they board airlines. The agency is also responsible for the Federal Air Marshal Service and overseeing security for highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems and ports.
   The TSA has about 50,000 employees compared to 1,200 in the Los Angeles World Airports force. Gale Rossides has worked as TSA's acting administrator since Bush administration appointee Kip Hawley left the post in January.
   AmericanShipper.com reported Aug. 7 that Southers was the frontrunner to become assistant secretary for the Transportation Security Administration, part of the Department of Homeland Security.
   Southers is also associate director of the University of Southern California's Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. He previously was deputy director of homeland security for California under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Earlier in his career he served as a detective in the Santa Monica Police Department and a special agent with the FBI.

Napolitano

   'Erroll's expertise in counterterrorism and airport security will be a great asset to the department in our efforts to ensure the safety of the nation's transportation systems,' Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement.
   At Los Angeles World Airports, Southers brought more weaponry to the department’s tactical team, increased the focus on intelligence, and had the team train with security forces from Israel’s El Al Airlines, according to CNN.
   Southers must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before he can take office. His nomination will be reviewed by the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. ' Eric Kulisch