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National Business Aviation Association
President and CEO Ed Bolen said NBAA looks forward to working with Kirstjen
Nielsen in her new role as Department of Homeland Security Secretary. Nielsen
was confirmed to the position by the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 62 to 37.
"NBAA has always had a productive and
collaborative relationship with the Department of Homeland Security, in the
development of effective, risk-based policies, which recognize the
characteristics that are unique to business aviation operations," Bolen said.
"Secretary Nielsen has extensive experience in the security arena, including in
matters related to aviation, and we look forward to working with her, as we have
with her predecessors."
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Nielsen comes to her new position having
served in the private sector as president of a consulting firm specializing in
security preparedness, including for critical infrastructure protection.
Before that, she was appointed by President
George W. Bush as Special Assistant to the President for Prevention Preparedness
and Response on the White House Homeland Security Council (HSC). In that role,
she helped develop and coordinate the implementation of security policies across
a federal interagency group. |
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Kirstjen Nielsen |
Prior to her work for the HSC, Nielsen created
and oversaw the newly created Transportation Security Administration's offices
focused on legislative policy, where she was instrumental in the development of
legislation establishing a framework for several TSA initiatives, including
those related to aviation.
With her Senate confirmation today, Nielsen
becomes the sixth confirmed DHS Secretary to lead the agency since its creation
in November 2002. She replaces John Kelly, who left in July to become White
House chief of staff.
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