President Bush nominated Thomas J. Barrett, of Alaska, to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at the Department of Transportation. Vice Admiral Barrett currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Prior to this, he served the United States Coast Guard for more than 35 years, retiring as Vice Commandant. Vice Admiral Barrett received his bachelor’s degree from LeMoyne College and his JD from The George Washington University.
Barrett is the former commander of the Coast Guard in Alaska and of the base in Kodiak.