The Senate has confirmed Coast Guard Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger as the TSA's new administrator.

He replaces John Pistole, who left his post as TSA administrator in December after 4 1/2 years. With a workforce of more than 60,000 employees, the TSA runs security operations at more than 450 airports.

Neffenger has served as the Coast Guard's vice commandant since 2014 and has been with the Coast Guard since 1981. He once oversaw port security in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California and also served as deputy incident commander for the oil spill that resulted from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion.