Release #09.067
September 11, 2009

Obama Administration’s Intent to Nominate Southers as DHS Assistant Secretary Welcomed by Pilots

WASHINGTON – Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement in response to the Obama administration’s intent to nominate Erroll Southers as assistant secretary, Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration).

“The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, welcomes the Obama administration’s intent to nominate Erroll Southers as assistant secretary, Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration).

“Mr. Southers’ extensive security background and years of experience in airport law enforcement give him a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by all those involved in making the U.S. airline industry as secure as possible for passengers, crews, and cargo.

“ALPA looks forward to continuing our work with the TSA to advance airline pilots’ priority security enhancements, including improving the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, installing secondary barriers to protect the cockpits of the nation’s airliners, improving cargo security, and providing pilots with more efficient and secure access to airports.

“ALPA is especially pleased with the administration’s intent to fill the assistant secretary position, which has been vacant for some time. We applaud Acting Administrator Gale D. Rossides, who has taken up the stewardship of the agency in the interim, for her outstanding leadership in steering the work of the TSA.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union, representing nearly 53,500 pilots at 36 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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Contact: Linda Shotwell, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org