A retired Army colonel has been tabbed as the new federal security director at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

And from this person's credentials, it appears he'll do admirable job to make sure airport users from this region and around the country and world are as safe as can be when flying to and through the Twin Cities.

Kenneth Kasprisin was named to the post Friday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Normal Mineta.

Kasprisin planned federal disaster responses after the Sept. 11 attacks, and he's a former commander and district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's St. Paul District.

Kasprisin is one of the first 15 chosen by the new Transportation Security Administration to help the nation's airport complete a security overhaul, which is badly needed.

With Kasprisin's background on the national level, coupled with his Twin Cities ties, it appears that he's a good fit for this post. Let's hope he his work can help avert any tragedy that could possibly come to our region's major airport.