NBAA Looks Forward to Working with New DHS Secretary Nielsen

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) 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."

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.

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.