Admiral James M. Loy completed a 45-year career in public service in 2005, retiring as the first Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, a position that he held from 2003 to 2005. In this capacity, he was involved in all aspects of consolidating 22 separate agencies into one unified cabinet department as well as managing the day-to-day activities of the agency.
Prior to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, Admiral Loy served in the Department of Transportation from 2002 to 2003 as Deputy Under Secretary for Security and Chief Operating Officer of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and later as Under Secretary for Security. In these roles, he served as the first administrator of the newly created TSA, which is responsible for protecting the U.S. transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.
Admiral Loy retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2002, having served as its Commandant from May 1998. As head of the 90,000 person organization, he restored readiness through workforce development and modernized the Coast Guard’s fleet of ships and aircraft.
Prior to his service as Commandant, Admiral Loy served as the Coast Guard Chief of Staff from 1996 to 1998, during which time he redesigned the headquarters management structure and overhauled the Coast Guard planning and budgeting process to focus more sharply on performance and results. From 1994 to 1996, he was Commander of the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area, supervising U.S. forces during the mass Haitian and Cuban migrations of 1994, and leading Coast Guard forces participating in Operation Restore Democracy.
