"Eastern Iowa Airport's new federal chief is familiar"

Tuesday, September 24, 2002

Airport's new federal chief is familiar 
By George C. Ford
The Ceder Rapids (IA) Gazette


CEDAR RAPIDS -- The new deputy federal security director for the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Eastern Iowa has been a
familiar face at The Eastern Iowa Airport.

Mark Ekstrom, 50, worked his last day Friday as commander of the
13-member police, fire and safety department at the airport. Ekstrom, a
23-year employee, began work Monday in Washington, D.C., with a week of
training before assuming his duties in Cedar Rapids.

Ekstrom, a native of the Anamosa-Martelle area, will supervise as many
as 150 federal employees at the airport as the TSA takes over screening
passengers and baggage later this year. Federal screeners must be in
place for passenger screening by Nov. 19.

Ekstrom's annual salary at the airport was $59,134. He will be paid
$71,200 by the TSA.

Ekstrom will report to Julio Garcia, TSA federal security director for
the airports in Cedar Rapids, Burlington and Dubuque as well as Moline,
Ill. He said the deputy director's position appealed to him for a
variety of reasons.

"I think anybody in law enforcement would like to be a federal agent,"
said Ekstrom. "It's a whole new opportunity and a newly created
position. No one has ever done this job before, so I'll be getting in on
the ground floor of developing the position.

"It really piqued my interest."

Ekstrom said the airport's police, fire and safety department will be
augmented by federal law enforcement personnel. He said the TSA will
need to staff up to meet a federal requirement that every piece of
baggage is inspected.

"When we start inspecting every bag, there will be a lot of TSA
employees working in front of the airline ticket counters," he said.
"They will be using explosives detection machines to inspect all
carry-on and checked luggage.

"That will take a lot of screeners. At this point, it will be a
two-shift operation with screeners on duty between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m.
each day."

On Monday, the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission approved the appointment
of Kent Waychoff as acting commander of the police, fire and safety
department. Airport Director Larry Mullendore said a nationwide search
will be conducted for Ekstrom's replacement.

Mullendore said the position of commander will be reviewed to determine
if a sworn law enforcement officer is an appropriate requirement for the
position. Police, fire and security personnel handle all law
enforcement, firefighting, rescue and emergency medical service duties
at the airport.


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