News Archive

John Pistole, ’81, has been named president-elect of Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. He will begin his new role in March 2015. He takes over from James L. Edwards, who has held the position since 1990, the longest serving public or private university president in Indiana.

Pistole began a career with the FBI in 1983 before he rose through the ranks and was appointed deputy director in 2004. He was nominated by President Barack Obama to be director of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a role he took over in Summer 2010. As head of the TSA, Pistole led a 60,000-strong workforce, and oversaw the security operations of more than 450 airports throughout the United States.

Pistole’s family has a long history with Anderson University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Anderson University in 1978, and both of his parents were alumni. The General Assembly of the Church of God founded the university in 1917.