Drew Schneider: Keeps Safety and Security Top of Mind
Manager
Airport Safety and Security Division
Long Beach Airport
Age: 32
Years in Aviation: 1.5
Did you know?
Schneider and his wife recently purchased a home in Long Beach.
Drew Schneider came to the aviation world in a roundabout way. He spent a decade in the homeland security enterprise and was looking for an opportunity to shift from policy/strategic realm to a more hands-on field position. He found aviation security to be a fascinating intersection of the facilitation of goods and people and national security issues. Schneider joined Long Beach Airport in the Spring of 2014. Schneider oversees the full range of public safety and emergency management activities at the airport, including the law enforcement functions, Long Beach Fire Department contract, and airport security coordinator functions. Since joining the airport, he has overseen a complete overhaul of the airport security program, emergency notification services, and implemented a robust training regime for the airport community. Schneider is furthering these efforts through a $7 million federal grant to upgrade the airport’s perimeter security and access control infrastructure. He previously worked for the Department of Homeland Security where he lead efforts to combat terrorism, recover from some of our nation’s worst disasters, and develop proactive approaches to homeland security. Schneider served on the executive team that rolled out the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign and the development of the new National Terrorism Advisory System. As the director of Local Affairs at DHS, Schneider served during significant national events, including the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the Boston Marathon Bombing and the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253. He brings an extensive background in emergency response, intelligence-led counterterrorism, and public safety. Schneider is a graduate of the University Of California School Of International Relations and Pacific Studies and California State University, Long Beach.