LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Former FBI Special Agent Ethel L. McGuire has been appointed Los Angeles Airport Police Assistant Chief for Homeland Security and Intelligence. She will oversee Airport Police sections responsible for ensuring compliance with Transportation Security Administration mandates, security credentialing, dignitary protection, emergency services, and homeland security/vulnerability assessment and analysis. She also will oversee analysis of relevant threat-based intelligence, and develop counter-terrorist, threat-management recommendations and appropriate counter-measures.

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"Assistant Chief McGuire brings comprehensive homeland security and public safety credentials to this critical position at Los Angeles World Airports," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. "I have always prioritized the safety of the airport and travelers, and I am proud to welcome her to the team of local and federal agencies that together continue to make LAX safer." 

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey said, "Assistant Chief McGuire comes to us with qualifications, skills and experience that directly match LAWA's needs. She brings with her a demonstrated record of leadership and has served with distinction some of our country's most demanding security institutions. We count ourselves fortunate to have found such a candidate."

"Assistant Chief McGuire is a highly qualified individual with a very diverse and impressive background of responsibilities and achievements, and was selected following a nationwide search conducted by our staff," said Airport Police Chief George Centeno. "It's a pleasure to have her on board."

McGuire, who recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), served as assistant special-agent-in-charge and executive manager of the Counterterrorism Branch of the FBI Field Office in Los Angeles. In that role, she managed the Los Angeles Joint Counterterrorism Task Force, directing more than 200 agents representing 39 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the oversight of all area seaports and airports, including LAX, and all threats to U.S. persons or interests in the Pacific Rim, including Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines and South Korea. 

Most recently, McGuire was section chief of the Strategic Information and Operations Center at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she played a key role in developing a crisis coordination and administration unit that manages all major case/crisis response plans for the entire FBI and headquarters divisions. She also managed crisis response, preparedness and staffing for all major events during her tenure, including the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China; the Republican and Democratic conventions; and events of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.

McGuire is a graduate of Texas Southern University and has trained at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.; and attended Counterterrorism Executive Leadership training and postgraduate studies at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Los Angeles Airport Police Division is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County with more than 1,200 law enforcement, security and staff personnel. Airport Police is a division of Los Angeles World Airports, the city department that owns and operates three airports:  Los Angeles International (LAX), LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation.

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