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President Bush Jan. 8 appointed John Magaw undersecretary of transportation for security to head U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Transportation Security Administration. Congress in November mandated the new security administration to strengthen the nation’s post-Sept. 11 transportation security.

Magaw formerly was director of Secret Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and most recently served as acting executive director of the Office of National Preparedness within Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Bush installed Magaw as a recess appointment — a president’s means of installing controversial nominees when Congress is in recess. Magaw’s Dec. 10 nomination attracted relatively little opposition, but failed to gain Senate approval before Congress adjourned for the holidays.

Magaw plans to meet ambitious deadlines set by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, passed by Congress in November. The act requires him to assume responsibility for all civil aviation security functions by Feb. 19.