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Appointee Directory View:   Thomas Barrett -- Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett, USCG (Ret.) was sworn in May 31, 2006, by Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta as the first administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Nominated by President Bush on January 24, 2006, Barrett was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 26. The PHMSA Administrator is the agency's Chief Executive Officer and advises the Secretary on all matters falling within PHMSA's jurisdiction. The Administrator directs the agency's national program for protecting against risks to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce and the transportation of liquid, natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous liquids by pipeline. The Administrator is responsible for directing the development of the broad legislative, budgetary, fiscal, consumer, public affairs, and civil rights programs for the agency. Barrett most recently was the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Prior to that, he served 35 years in the United States Coast Guard and attained the position of Vice Commandant. In that capacity, he served as second in command, Agency Acquisition Executive, coordinated the Coast Guard Leadership Council, and co-chaired with the Vice Chief of Naval Operations the Navy-Coast Guard Board, an inter-service policy coordination body. He was instrumental in improving maritime security post 9/11, expanding Coast Guard support to the National Foreign Intelligence Community, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, smoothly transitioning the Coast Guard into the new Department of Homeland Security, and overseeing Deepwater, the largest system-of -systems procurement in government. Previously, he directed Coast Guard operations in the North Pacific, including the Gulf of Alaska, Eastern Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean. These were, and still are, some of the most treacherous oceans on the planet that are crucial to U.S. petroleum and cargo transit, and host extensive cruise ship and fishing activity. He oversaw operations at the port of Valdez, transfer point for oil from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. He expanded operational partnerships with Russia and devised and implemented a robust maritime security and safety program that was fully integrated with Alaska Command, the Department of Justice and the State of Alaska. Other assignments included directing Coast Guard training and leadership development programs, commanding the Coast Guard's largest base at Kodiak, Alaska, serving as Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics Command, Atlantic, as Special Assistant to the Chief Counsel, as a claims and litigation attorney and as a deck officer afloat. He is a Vietnam veteran. Barrett earned a B.S. in Biology from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, N.Y., and a Juris Doctor with honors from the George Washington University. He is a graduate of the Army War College and the National Defense University Capstone Course in National Security Strategy and Military Capabilities. Barrett is married to the former Sheila Walker of Syracuse, N.Y. They are proud parents of four children, Tom, a Major in the United States Army, Matt, Rebecca and Paul, a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corp Reserve. Both Tom and Paul are Iraq veterans.

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