Senate confirms Pistole as TSA chief

WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed John Pistole as the head of Transportation Security Administration.

Pistole, a one-time FBI deputy director, cleared the Homeland Security Committee before the vote by the full Senate, The Hill reported.

Pistole was President Barack Obama's third choice for the post. Obama's previous nominees, former FBI agent Erroll Southers and retired Gen. Robert Harding, were forced to pull their nominations because of controversies surrounding previous jobs.

Pistole captured broad support leading up to his confirmation, The Hill said. In his FBI post, he played a key role in the capture of Faisal Shahzad, who was arrested for the attempted car bombing in New York's Times Square last month.