Former TSA Executive Joins K2 Security Screening Group

K2 Security Screening Group, an industry leader in the planning, installation, integration and management of airport passenger and checked baggage security screening systems, today announced the appointment of Girard (Gerry) Phelan as the company’s senior director of Capability Delivery. After 21 years of dedicated service with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Phelen will oversee an impressive portfolio of programs and projects, while also ensuring operational and financial efficiency.

Previously, Phelan served as the Federal Security Director (FSD) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. His innovative approach strengthened security operations and modernized screening technology and processes, including the integration of Automatic Screening Lanes and TSA’s first remote checkpoint screening. While there, he was recognized as the Federal Security Director of the Year in 2018, and under his leadership in 2019, IAH was named Airport of the Year. Before his Houston assignment, Phelan was the federal security director at Savannah International Airport and Southwest Regional International Airport in Fort Myers, FL.

Recently, Phelan led a team of inspectors and technicians responsible for the regulatory oversight, compliance, and enforcement of security measures for all modes of transportation in 10 counties in Central Florida. Prior to this assignment, he served as the TSA Representative and DHS Attaché in Sydney, Australia, where he worked closely with foreign government and embassy officials throughout the South Pacific. Phelan’s commitment to a more transparent exchange of ideas managed several groundbreaking projects which have had a significant global impact.

Before joining the TSA, Phelan worked in the private sector, serving as vice president of Human Resources/Facilities/Security for Evergreen International Aviation. He began his career in the Army Military Police Corp.

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