Neffenger takes over as TSA administrator

The former Coast Guard official officially took over the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, an agency that has come under fire recently for its performance.    The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has a new full-time administrator. Peter Neffenger was sworn in July 4 to head the Department of Homeland Security sub-agency, which is best known for providing aviation security but also is responsible for ensuring secure transport in other modes.
   Neffenger, previously the Coast Guard vice commandant, was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate on June 22. He served as the deputy national incident commander for the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
   He takes over an agency that has come under fire recently for its performance. Acting Administrator Melvin Carraway was reassigned a month ago after undercover investigators acting as passengers testing TSA systems were repeatedly able to sneak prohibited items past screeners.
   John Pistole, the last permanent TSA administrator, resigned in December to take a job in academia.