Michael Restovich

Mr. Mike Restovich recently retired from government after more than three decades of service that included filling critical national security roles domestically and on behalf of the U.S. government overseas.

Most recently, Mr. Restovich served in the Senior Executive Service at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), where he worked in key capacities at headquarters and in the field. In August of 2009, Mr. Restovich returned to the U.S. after completing his service as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attaché at the U.S. Embassy in London, where he was the senior homeland security official representing the Secretary of DHS, the TSA Administrator, and the U.S. Chief of Mission for Embassy London. In the United Kingdom, Mr. Restovich represented the Office of International Affairs and the DHS Policy Directorate in critical bi-lateral discussions with UK Home Office and Department for Transport.

Prior to his assignment in the UK, Mr. Restovich served as head of TSA Security Operations, overseeing 450 airports and a $3.7 billion dollar budget. During his tenure, he successfully led a reorganization of the Office of Security Operations (OSO), improving communication with the field, streamlining HQ field management, realigning the Federal Security Director’s staffing and frontline management, and implementing new performance measures, resulting in cost reductions and increased efficiencies throughout the network. Ongoing operational initiatives like the Behavior Detection Officer Program, the Travel Document Checker Program and Bomb Appraisal Officer were efforts conceived, planned, and budgeted while Mr. Restovich led OSO. He also played an integral role in TSA’s support role after Hurricane Katrina, and subsequently designed and implemented a Critical Incident Management Plan within OSO for ready response to major events throughout the world.

Prior to accepting that position, Mr. Restovich led the establishment of TSA’s Office of Transportation Sector Network Management, where he led the effort to build a resilient, robust, and sustainable network with TSA’s public and private sector partners to ensure the safe movement of passengers and promote the free flow of commerce across intermodal transportation systems. He was the primary architect of the largest U.S. government attempt at executing the network management model, covering rail, pipelines, airports, airlines, cargo, highways, and surface transportation, successfully laying a firm operational foundation still in use today.

Mr. Restovich has held key leadership positions in the private sector as well, serving as a Director of Asset Protection for Exodus Communications and as Head of the Network Integrity Group for MCI WorldCom in Dallas, Texas. Before joining MCI WorldCom, he served 22 years as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service with assignments in several field offices around the country as well as in various protective and headquarters’ assignments.

Mr. Restovich is a recipient of the DHS Secretary’s Silver Medal in recognition of achievements of marked significance to the Department. He was also the recipient of the first John W. Magaw Values Award for his significant contributions to the TSA mission, and was awarded the “Freedom Fighter Award” by Herb Kelleher on behalf of Southwest Airlines. Mr. Restovich is also a 2002 recipient of the TSA’s 9/11 Medal for meritorious service and holds “plank holder” status at TSA, an honor reserved for individuals first tasked with “standing–up” a new federal agency.

Mr. Restovich earned his BS in Social Psychology from Northwestern State University and is a member of the Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service.