TSA Director Stone to Step Down

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avid Stone will resign as director of the Transportation Security Administration, the agency said Friday.

Stone, a former Navy admiral, informed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff of his decision and has agreed to remain in his post until June to assist in the transition process of finding a successor, TSA said in a statement.

TSA is part of the Homeland Security department. Congress and President Bush created the agency following 9/11 to increase airport and overall transportation protection.

Stone, 52, becomes the third leader since 2002 to leave TSA, which is in charge of protecting the nation’s airports, railways and ports, Bloomberg reported. He was named acting head in December 2003, replacing James Loy.

In February, TSA denied a petition by American Trucking Associations that sought to delay the agency’s plan to fingerprint drivers of hazardous materials, and that all states be required to use a single TSA-chosen contractor.

TSA began the second phase of its Hazmat Threat Assessment Program Tuesday with the fingerprinting of commercial truck drivers applying to obtain hazmat endorsements on their commercial driver licenses.