"Former San Diego airport official named security chief at Seattle-Tacoma"

Thursday, May 13, 2004

Former San Diego airport official named security chief at Seattle-Tacoma 
The Associated Press


A former airport security supervisor in San Diego and a retired Coast Guard
rear admiral will be in charge of security following a shakeup at
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 

John C. "Jack" Kelley Jr., formerly deputy federal security director at San
Diego International Airport, will become federal security director at
Sea-Tac starting Monday, officials said Tuesday. 

Ralph D. Utley, a retired Coast Guard rear admiral, will be deputy federal
security director for the Transportation Security Administration at the
airport at a date to be set later. 

Kelley told The Seattle Times the TSA's acting administrator, Rear Adm.
David Stone, was sending a message by moving him to Sea-Tac as soon as
possible. 

"He feels that it's a serious issue," Kelley said. "He wants to make things
right." 

Screeners have been complaining about security and management problems at
Sea-Tac for months. 

Kelley and Utley replace former Sea-Tac federal security director Robert
Blunk and his second-in-command, Robert Coleman. Blunk and Coleman were
transferred to TSA's Washington, D.C. headquarters this week in the agency's
continuing management and leadership review at the biggest West Coast
airport north of San Francisco. 

Two other security officials were placed on administrative leave. The moves
are part of an ongoing investigation into problems at the airport. 

Kevin Morris, a screening manager who was accused of accepting $300 in
exchange for helping employees with promotion applications, has been on paid
administrative leave since February.


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