John Magaw
Encyclopedia
John W. Magaw was a United States Government administrator
. He received a bachelor of science
degree in education
from Otterbein College, in Westerville, Ohio
(1957). He began his career in public service in 1959 as a state trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol
.
He became a special agent with the United States Secret Service
in 1967. While he was at the Secret Service he served as deputy special agent in charge of the Vice Presidential
protective division and head of the Washington Field office. By 1992, Magaw was in charge of all protective operations for the President and First family. Magaw was director of the United States Secret Service from 1992 to 1993.
The Waco siege
did not reflect well on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). After an investigation, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury purged its senior leadership and appointed Magaw Director. Morale in the agency improved during his tenure (1993–1999).
Magaw was appointed Senior Advisor to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) for terrorism preparedness in December 1999. In that role, he planned and coordinated FEMA's domestic terrorism preparedness efforts.
He served was Acting Director (January 20, 2001–February 15, 2001). After Joe Allbaugh
's confirmation he held other positions within FEMA.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta
, and his deputy, chose Magaw to stand up the new Transportation Security Administration
, for his law enforcement experience and successessful leadership of BATF. President George W. Bush
agreed, and in January 2002 the U.S. Senate confirmed Magaw as Undersecretary of Transportation Security. He oversaw the initial standup of the TSA. His tough approach to airport security produced long lines and inconvenience for travelers, angering stakeholders. Not allowing pilots to arm themselves also sparked controversy. He didn't cultivate his public image, nor tend to relations with Congress. He left TSA in June 2002; former United States Coast Guard
Admiral
James Loy
replaced him. Magaw lasted six months at TSA; his successor lasted ten months. (TSA later moved from Transportation
to Homeland Security
.)
Magaw received the Presidential Rank Meritorious Award twice (1991, 1999), and the Presidential Rank Distinguished Award (1995).
Administration (government)
The term administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction.-United States:In United States usage, the term refers to the executive branch under a specific president , for example: the "Barack Obama administration." It can also mean an executive branch agency...
. He received a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from Otterbein College, in Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
(1957). He began his career in public service in 1959 as a state trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio State Highway Patrol
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and is the official highway patrol agency of Ohio. The several missions of the Patrol include providing roadway patrol, emergency response to all public lands, the investigation of crimes which occur on state...
.
He became a special agent with the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
in 1967. While he was at the Secret Service he served as deputy special agent in charge of the Vice Presidential
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
protective division and head of the Washington Field office. By 1992, Magaw was in charge of all protective operations for the President and First family. Magaw was director of the United States Secret Service from 1992 to 1993.
The Waco siege
Waco Siege
The Waco siege began on February 28, 1993, and ended violently 50 days later on April 19. The siege began when the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, a property located east-northeast of Waco,...
did not reflect well on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). After an investigation, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury purged its senior leadership and appointed Magaw Director. Morale in the agency improved during his tenure (1993–1999).
Magaw was appointed Senior Advisor to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) for terrorism preparedness in December 1999. In that role, he planned and coordinated FEMA's domestic terrorism preparedness efforts.
He served was Acting Director (January 20, 2001–February 15, 2001). After Joe Allbaugh
Joe Allbaugh
Joe M. Allbaugh is an American political figure in the Republican Party. After spending most of his career in Oklahoma and Texas, Allbaugh came to national prominence working for Texas governor George W. Bush and helping manage his 2000 presidential election campaign...
's confirmation he held other positions within FEMA.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta
Norman Mineta
Norman Yoshio Mineta, is a United States politician of the Democratic Party. Mineta most recently served in President George W. Bush's Cabinet as the United States Secretary of Transportation, the only Democratic Cabinet Secretary in the Bush administration...
, and his deputy, chose Magaw to stand up the new Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
, for his law enforcement experience and successessful leadership of BATF. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
agreed, and in January 2002 the U.S. Senate confirmed Magaw as Undersecretary of Transportation Security. He oversaw the initial standup of the TSA. His tough approach to airport security produced long lines and inconvenience for travelers, angering stakeholders. Not allowing pilots to arm themselves also sparked controversy. He didn't cultivate his public image, nor tend to relations with Congress. He left TSA in June 2002; former United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
James Loy
James Loy
Admiral James Milton Loy served as Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security in 2005 and United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from December 4, 2003, to March 1, 2005...
replaced him. Magaw lasted six months at TSA; his successor lasted ten months. (TSA later moved from Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
to Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
.)
Magaw received the Presidential Rank Meritorious Award twice (1991, 1999), and the Presidential Rank Distinguished Award (1995).