Kip Hawley

Edmund S. "Kip" Hawley is the former Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration, part of United States government's Department of Homeland Security. Hawley held the post from July 27, 2005 to January 20, 2009, replacing the previous Director, Rear Admiral David Stone. He was succeeded by Acting Administrator Gale Rossides.

This was the second time Hawley had occupied a duty station at TSA. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, then-Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta tapped him to lead "Go-Teams" of government and private sector experts who tackled the task of quickly establishing a new federal agency.

Prior to his nomination to the TSA, Hawley was Executive Vice President of Arzoon, a supply-chain software company in San Mateo, California. Arzoon is a subsidiary of SSA Global Technologies. Hawley also sat on the Air Traffic Services Subcommittee of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Prior to this he was CEO of Skyway, a supply-chain services company and Vice President at Union Pacific Railroad. Previous government service included serving on the National Commission on Intermodal Transportation (in 1992) and as Deputy Assistant and Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan. Hawley also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Executive Director of Governmental Affairs for the Department of Transportation, responsible for planning budgets and legislative proposals.

Hawley received his B.A. from Brown University, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1980.

Since heading the TSA his two biggest projects were the 3-1-1, which allows passengers to bring limited amount of liquids aboard in aircraft, and the PASS program, which rates the abilities of Transportation Officers.

Kip Hawley is a contributing writer to the Leadership Journal Blog for the Department of Homeland Security, where topics have included Secure Flight, Security Strategy and Covert Testing: https://www.dhs.gov/journal/leadership/

On Covert Testing (11.14.07): http://www.tsa.gov/press/speeches/11142007_hawley_house.shtm

TWIC Testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee (10.31.07): http://www.tsa.gov/press/speeches/103107b_hawley_house.shtm

Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (10.16.07): http://www.tsa.gov/press/speeches/101607_hawley.shtm

Improving Aviation Security (10.16.07): http://www.tsa.gov/press/speeches/101607_hawley_house.shtm

Keynote Address to the Aero Club of Washington (07.24.07): http://www.tsa.gov/press/speeches/07242007_hawley.shtm

As head of the TSA, Hawley has been a focal point for public criticism relating to what many consider intrusive and ineffective security measures now undertaken at American airports. In September 2006, in response to the new policies limiting the amounts of liquids and gels that passengers could carry on airplanes, Milwaukee resident Ryan Bird wrote "Kip Hawley is an Idiot" on a plastic bag given to passengers by airport security for those substances. As a result, he claims he was detained and told that the First Amendment did not apply to security checkpoints.

In April, 2007, Mr. Hawley agreed to a partially published interview conducted by Bruce Schneier regarding TSA policies and practices. Later, Schneier demonstrated the complete ineffectiveness of TSA measures by bringing a variety of objects which are classified by the TSA as dangerous through security and onto planes. Objects included box cutters and plastic "beer belly" filled with unexamined liquid.

Mr. Hawley responded with the following admission:

"Clever terrorists can use innovative ways to exploit vulnerabilities. But don’t forget that most bombers are not, in fact, clever. Living bomb-makers are usually clever, but the person agreeing to carry it may not be super smart. Even if “all” we do is stop dumb terrorists, we are reducing risk."