Miami-Dade County – The Miami-Dade Aviation Department announced that Lauren Stover has been named Assistant Aviation Director, effective Monday, March 13, 2006.
Stover will handle all communications responsibilities for the Department and assume a key role in the management of airport security. A 23-year veteran of Miami-Dade County government, she returns after three years in a leadership role within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Stover was recruited in 2002 by the newly created Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from her senior management position at Miami International Airport. The federal agency, created in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, tasked Stover with building a comprehensive public affairs operation for the southeastern United States and named her chief media spokesperson for more than 60 airports. In 2004, she was promoted to Eastern Field Director for TSA Public Affairs, overseeing security-related public outreach programs in more than 20 states.
“Lauren’s involvement in creating and promoting national transportation security policy and programs-critical to all U.S. airport operations-will add a powerful dimension to our capabilities,” said Aviation Director José Abreu, P.E. “Her experience and skills will provide our system of airports with strong support in development and implementation of security protocols.”
During her tenure with DHS, Stover was hand picked by the Department to serve as chief public affairs officer for Vice Administrator Thad Allen, Director of the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. Her knowledge of incident management extends well beyond the aviation sector, having been the first Public Affairs Director in DHS to play a key role in the largest weapons of mass destruction exercise in U.S. history. She is highly trained in handling incidences of national significance within the framework of the National Response Plan and is highly regarded as one of DHS’ top crisis managers in the U.S.
She has worked with virtually all key law enforcement agencies, local and federal, on homeland and aviation security events and issues, and is well known in the aviation community. During the past three years she has worked closely in South Florida with Customs and Border Protection, Federal Air Marshals, U.S. Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
“She is a national resource on aviation security with a native commitment and understanding of Miami-Dade,” said Abreu.
