TSA administrator to retire after four years at helm

Reporting from Washington —  The longest-serving head of the Transportation Security Administration will retire in December after 4 1/2 years leading the agency.

John S. Pistole joined the TSA, which oversees passenger safety on airlines, trains and mass transit nationwide, after more than 20 years at the FBI. During his time at the agency, he oversaw the launch of a “precheck” system that allows pre-screened travelers to use expedited security lines when traveling through airports, avoiding some standard procedures like removing shoes and taking laptops out of bags.

The system is used by more than 5 million passengers per week, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“Because of his efforts over the past four and a half years, our country’s transportation systems are more safe and secure,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement announcing Pistole’s retirement.

Before joining the agency, Pistole was a counterterrorism investigator at the FBI, where he assisted with investigations into the 2010 failed car bombing in Times Square and the 2005 bombings of London’s metro system.

“I could not be more proud of all that our employees have accomplished together, particularly what they have done to help enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of transportation security while improving the passenger screening experience,” Pistole said in a statement.

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