Rick Gordonis the InterimFederal Security Director (FSD) at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP). He was selected for this position in June 2012. Since his interim appointment at MSP, he still as oversight of TSA operations at Eppley Airfield where he has been FSD since April 2011. He is responsible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) federal security oversight of fifteen additional airports and statewide TSA surface transportation security operations for both Nebraska and Minnesota.
After almost 30 distinguished years in law enforcement, Mr. Gordon desired to serve and assist in the security of our nation post 9/11. Hejoined TSA in September 2002. Mr. Gordon’s first TSA assignment in September 2002 was as the Deputy Federal Security Director at the Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH) in Pocatello, Idaho. Between his first and current assignments at TSA, Mr. Gordon was appointed as the Deputy Federal Security Director for the State of Idaho in 2005. In June 2006, Mr. Gordon transferred to TSA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and was eventually selected as the Operations Officer for the Office of Security Operations (OSO) – Western Area. He was responsible for providing Area Ops program support of Federal Security Directors located within the vast Western Operations Area of the Transportation Security Administration, including the PacificIslands. In December 2006, Mr. Gordon was appointed as the FSD for Traverse City (TVC) and the Upper Peninsula Region of the State of Michigan, and in December 2008 he was appointed as the FSD for Moline International Airport(MLI) and the Western and Downstate Region of the State of Illinois.
During Mr. Gordon’s distinguished law enforcement career, he was a Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy, detective division investigator, operation’s patrol supervisor and operations and corrections division lieutenant. Before retiring, other senior career succession positions attained during his law enforcement career include patrol and detective division commander, executive officer to the Sheriff, training program manager, and the department’s Asst. CALEA Accreditation manager.
Mr. Gordon was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He served one tour of duty in the South Pacific region during the Vietnam era and a second tour of duty with a ICBM missle squadron within the Strategic Air Command. His four year military our of duty ended in December 1973.
Mr. Gordon received his secondary education from PortlandCommunity College and PortlandStateUniversity in Portland, Oregon. He also holds a Police Officer Management Certification from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
Mr. Gordon is married to Cheryl Laird Gordon and they have two sons; Austin, 22, and Alexander, 18. They are also the parents of two girls; Jennifer, 33, and Nikki, 27, from a prior marriage. Their home is in the State of Idaho, and Mr. Gordon has been working for TSA long distance from his home for over six years. Mr. Gordon enjoys hobbies that include, classic cars, recreational vehicles (ATVs) and spending time with his sons.
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