News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DOT 98-01
Sunday, September 16, 2001
Contact: Chet Lunner
Telephone: (202) 366-4570

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces Rapid Response Teams on Airport, Aircraft Security

U.S. Secretary of Transportation (DOT) Norman Y. Mineta today announced the creation of two Rapid Response Teams to deliver detailed recommendations for improving security within the national aviation system. Augmenting the work of senior DOT and FAA experts, six national leaders in aviation and security protection will participate in this comprehensive review, and will deliver to Secretary Mineta its recommendations no later than October 1, 2001.

One Rapid Response Team will focus on increasing security at the nation's airports, the other on aircraft security, focusing on cockpit access. The two Rapid Response Teams, which will directly report to Secretary Mineta, will be coordinated by Deputy Transportation Secretary Michael P. Jackson.

"Last week, we successfully restored operations within our national air system," said Secretary Mineta. "Our efforts must now turn to developing long-term, sustainable security improvements within our airports and the aircrafts themselves as we continue to provide all Americans the highest possible levels of safety."

"These are complex issues, but we have a strong base on which to build. We can and will build on existing analysis as the Department of Transportation prepares to act on specific recommendations. I'm confident that each of these distinguished Rapid Response Team members will help us do just that."

Participating in the Rapid Response Team on airport security will be: Herb Kelleher, chairman of the board of directors of Southwest Airlines; Raymond Kelly, former commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service and veteran law enforcement officer; and Charles M. (Chip) Barclay, president of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

Participating in the Rapid Response Team on aircraft security will be: Robert W. Baker, vice chairman of American Airlines; Robert A. Davis, former vice president of engineering and technology for The Boeing Company; and Capt. Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Rapid Response Team on airport security:

Herb Kelleher

Kelleher has 35 years experience in the airline business. He co-founded Southwest Airlines in 1971 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer until earlier this year. During that time, Southwest grew from an intrastate carrier serving three Texas cities with three planes to the fourth largest U.S. domestic passenger airline. Kelleher was chairman of the Partnership for Improved Air Travel from 1989 to 1991 and was a member of the President's "National Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry" in 1993. He is an attorney and a native of Haddon Heights, NJ.

Ray Kelly

Raymond Kelly is a former U.S. Marine and a Vietnam War veteran who rose to commissioner through the ranks in 31 years with the New York City Police Department. Since March, he has been senior managing director and global head of corporate security at Bear, Stearns & Co., a leading worldwide investment banking and securities trading and brokerage firm. Kelly served as New York City's police commissioner from 1992 to 1994 and led the department through the investigation of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He retired from the NYPD in 1994 and later that year became the director of the international police force in Haiti. From 1995 to 1996, Kelly was the president of Investigative Group International, a 100-person litigation support company specializing in investigations for major domestic and international law firms. In 1997, Kelly was elected vice president of the Americas for Interpol. From 1998 to 2001, Kelly served as U.S. Customs Service commissioner.

Charles Barclay

Charles (Chip) Barclay is the president of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), a position he has held since 1983. AAAE is the largest professional organization for airport executives in the world, representing thousands of airport management personnel at public use airports nationwide. Before joining AAAE, Barclay served as a senior staff member of the U.S. Senate's subcommittee on aviation and on the staff of the former Civil Aeronautics Board. Barclay was a member of the President's "National Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry" in 1993 and is a past member of a number of Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation task forces and committees.

Rapid Response Team on aircraft security:

Robert W. Baker

Robert W. Baker was named Vice Chairman of American Airlines in January 2000. He is involved in all aspects of the airline business and represents American externally on technical and operational issues before the FAA, the NTSB and other governmental agencies and industry groups. Previously Baker had served as executive vice president, and senior vice president for operations. He is recognized as one of the airline industry's leaders in many of the technical aspects of the business.

Robert A. Davis

Recently retired, Robert A. Davis was named corporate vice president of engineering and technology for The Boeing Company in August 1994. He had served as vice president of engineering and product development for the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group since July 1991. Davis was responsible for overseeing, coordinating and developing all engineering and technology programs throughout The Boeing Company.

Duane Woerth

Captain Duane Woerth, a Northwest Airlines pilot, has been president of ALPA since January 1999. ALPA is the largest labor union and professional organization of airline pilots in the world, representing more than 55,000 airline pilots in the U.S. and Canada. Woerth has flown at Northwest for more than 18 years, and previously at Braniff for five. In addition to various assignments within ALPA, Woerth was a member of Northwest's board of directors under the company's employee stock ownership plan.