TSA Weekly, May 18-22, 2009
A Message from Gale
'Everyday Heroes in Santa Barbara'
TSA's dedicated and wonderful people make a difference in transportation security every day. They go about their jobs in an unassuming and quiet way, but they come together with energy and conviction to meet our ever-present challenges. The TSA team at California's Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) truly exemplifies this spirit.
The Santa Barbara wildfire that raged during the first week of May destroyed 80 homes, burned more than 13 square miles, and forced 30,000 people from their homes at its peak.
For the TSOs and staff at Santa Barbara Airport, it was an especially challenging situation to face. Although the fires didn't present undue operational difficulties, they did present an extraordinary situation that put a great deal of stress on the traveling public coming through the airport. The fires were also a distraction that could have negatively impacted the professional discipline that our mission demands.
But the team at SBA met the challenge with quiet propfessionalism and character. As FSD Randy McIntosh says, "Our people continued to perform outstandingly, as they always do, throughout this fire incident. Because other recent fires weren't covered as extensively in the media, people don't know that we've had several in the last ten months, and the first actually caused more impact on the airport, but our team was reliable and they performed well, as usual."
TSO Dale Hammond agrees. He noted that it was remarkable how the "SBA staff – Administration and Screening alike – adapted, cooperated, worked together and with dedication, exercised mountains of compassion, listened, demonstrated the best in TSA's Core Values, and did consistently well what we have been trained to do."
What they did at SBA is everything that has been taught in ENGAGE! and is so emblematic of the people that we have working in TSA.
I sincerely appreciate the amazing team at SBA for the incredible job they did by working together to support the passengers – some of whom were evacuating their homes – and creating calm for those who were experiencing devastating loss and stress. They made an extraordinary impact on others by doing what they do every day – with compassion and excellence.
They are another example of TSA's everyday heroes in action.
News
TSA and Ad Council Raise Awareness of "Secure Flight" Program as part of National Public Education Campaign
More News
- Focus on Security Best Practices at TSA-Led Working Group
- TSA Asks Passengers to Place Shoes Directly on X-Ray Belt
- TSA Records Liaisons Train and Collaborate on Range of Topics
- This Week’s Featured Local Newsletter
White House Open Government Initiative Touts TSA's IdeaFactory
TSA's IdeaFactory is featured on the White House blog under Open Government Initiative as an "innovation" that "champions the President's vision of more effective and open government." The blog posting, accompanied by a screenshot of IdeaFactory, outlines how the internal site addresses challenges at TSA, provides a solution to facilitating two-way communications and benefits both employees and the traveling public. The blog notes that IdeaFactory has led to "implementation of more than 40 innovative ideas in two years" with "almost 9,000 ideas on the site and more than 25,000 employees have visited the site." Read more at http://www.whitehouse.gov/open/innovations/IdeaFactory/.
National Public Campaign Launches to Educate Air Travelers
From the Office of Strategic Communications/Public Affairs
With more than 195 million travelers expected at the nation's airports this summer, TSA and the Ad Council continue their partnership with the launch of a public awareness campaign to educate passengers on the upcoming Secure Flight program.
"This critical campaign will continue to raise public awareness about the important role that travelers play in the airport security process, while educating them about the latest security procedures through the Secure Flight program," said Peggy Conlon, Ad Council President and CEO. The Ad Council, a private and non-profit organization, works with non-profit organizations and government agencies to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns.
A collaborative effort with the airlines, Secure Flight provides enhanced watch list matching capabilities to identify individuals who may pose a known or suspected threat to aviation or national security and subject them to secondary screening, law enforcement interview, or prohibition from boarding an aircraft, as appropriate.
"Secure Flight will help reduce the misidentification of passengers who have names similar to individuals on government watch lists, clearing more than 99 percent of passengers for travel," said Acting Administrator Gale Rossides.
TSA's passenger feedback shows that travelers are more willing to cooperate with airport security when they better understand the reasoning behind the measures. The Ad Council campaign aims to improve security by encouraging airline passengers to become better prepared for security processes, thereby resulting in a more positive experience.
The campaign also builds upon TSA's ongoing commitment to communicating why certain procedures and requirements are an important part of airport security. For example, the campaign explains the new Secure Flight program, as well as why travelers are asked to remove shoes and coats, limit liquids to three ounces and show their IDs.
TSA has built some flexibility into Secure Flight processes regarding passenger name accuracy. For the near future, small differences between the passenger's ID and the passenger's reservation information, such as the use of a middle initial instead of a full middle name or no middle name/initial at all, should not cause a problem for the passenger.
TSA and the Ad Council first partnered in November 2008, on the "Why?" campaign, using informational videos, Web banners and media interviews to explain to the traveling public what TSA does and why it does it.
Visit tsa.gov for more about Secure Flight.
Evolution Training Leads to Expo at Seattle-Tacoma
By Adana Conway, Expert Behavior Detection Officer, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Transportation Security Inspectors Marc Staten and Kathryn Menconi. Photo by Mishana Egan
The first-ever Evolution Expo was recently held at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, showcasing TSA departments, key personnel and potential career opportunities.
Attended by 500 TSOs, airport dignitaries and stakeholders, nearly 20 different departments including Payroll, Regulatory and Training, along with the Federal Air Marshal Service, showed videos, provided information and eagerly fielded participant questions and concerns. Contests and drawings were held to encourage participation.
The Expo was the idea of Transportation Security Inspector (TSI) Alton (Marc) Staten, who said that four years ago, then a Transportation Security Manager, he recognized the need to promote and strengthen the internal communication among the workforce at Seattle-Tacoma.
Staten envisioned a program that would build relationships across the work areas and benefit and uplift officer morale and welfare. He said that those types of events help instill professional pride within the officer ranks.
Such visions need an opportunity to become reality. So it was that not until COACH! came to Seattle in early 2009 that the opportunity presented itself. There, Staten collaborated with TSI Kathryn Menconi, a colleague who shared his passion for the workforce.
"During one of the discussions [in COACH! class] an officer commented that she did not know what ‘COCEN' did," Menconi said. "This officer had been with TSA since the roll out in 2002."
After discussing with FSD Denise Harvill, Staten and Menconi started planning the Evolution Expo.
"My vision for this year's Expo was to simply bring us together to network and get to know each other," Staten said. "However, what evolved was so much more. Not only do we build relationships with each other, we strengthen the morale and welfare of our workforce by sharing our expertise and create a foundation for a successful team."
Staten attributes the Expo's success to the employees, management and willingness of everyone involved to "step outside the box," which, he said, is "what Evolution is all about."
Everyone benefits, Staten said, since the Expo laid a promising foundation of effective lines of communication and demonstrates "TSA's commitment of fostering and maintaining high performance through a culture of collaboration and dialogue, from the officer level to the top and throughout the workforce."
TSO Amanda O'Brien said she enjoyed the Expo and found it unique because it was made up of Seattle-Tacoma's internal departments in an environment where it was "us learning about ourselves."
When asked how the Expo featured characteristics of Evolution, she said the "open door" element and the networking aspect were well represented.
Staten envisions the Expo a yearly event and plans on inviting other DHS components, and partners like the Port of Seattle Police Department and airline staff.
More News
Focus on Security Best Practices at TSA-Led Working Group
By Sarah Brown, International Program Analyst, Office of Global Strategies
From left, Clare Mueting, Program Analyst, Mass Transit, Transportation Sector Network Management (TSNM); Paul Lennon, General Manager, Mass Transit, TSNM; Bob Rzemieniewski, Stakeholder Relations Branch Chief, Mass Transit, TSNM; and Sarah Brown, International Program Analyst, International Alliances, Office of Global Strategies. Photo by Andy Szul
On May 5-7, TSA brought together nearly 20 representatives from 11 international partners for the 5th Session of the International Working Group on Land Transport Security (IWGLTS). Participants shared best practices on land transport security and collaboratively planned projects including surveys on mitigation security measures and land transport security technologies. They also worked on developing a risk assessment matrix of land transport modes.
Land transport security includes mass transit, rail, highways, tunnels, and bridges. TSA's Transportation Sector Network Management (TSNM) and Office of Global Strategies hosted the event in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles International Airport FSD Larry Fetters spoke about the importance and challenges of protecting modes of land transportation, and the Office of Intelligence provided a briefing on the threats to land transport security. The Model Workplace Program Office (MWPO) provided a facilitation team that assisted the group in reaching agreement on projects to complete before the next session, scheduled for December. The MWPO is part of Collaborative Strategies, a new division within the Office of Human Capital.
The Los Angeles Sheriff Deputies provided an overview briefing on the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and a facilitated table-top exercise on incident response that emphasized the need to identify all necessary stakeholders; be prepared with an established crisis incident management plan; develop one unified message to manage public perception; and begin immediate recovery operations.
"It is a tremendous accomplishment to bring together so many international partners to collaborate on best practices in land transport security," said Paul Lennon, General Manager for Mass Transit, TSNM. "And we look forward to the continued successes from the joint efforts of IWGLTS members.
TSA Asks Passengers to Place Shoes Directly on X-Ray Belt
By Carrie Harmon, Office of Strategic Communications/Public Affairs
In order to screen shoes more quickly and effectively, TSA is now asking passengers to place shoes directly on the belt of the X-ray machine instead of in a bin.
According to Security Operations Assistant Administrator Lee Kair, "By placing shoes directly on the belt or in a bin isolated from other items, TSA officers have a clearer view, which may result in faster image resolution and reduced screening time."
TSA instituted mandatory shoe screening as an additional security measure when the threat level for the aviation sector went to Orange, or High, on August 10, 2006. Shoes remain a security concern because items may be hidden within the shoe. Screening shoes by X-ray is an effective method of determining if footwear has been tampered with.
TSA does not anticipate that shoes will be damaged during the screening process if they are placed on the belt. "Putting your shoes directly on the X-ray belt is safe, easy, and gives us a better opportunity to look for anomalies, including explosives," said Kair.
Passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or a prosthetic device that prevents them from removing their shoes should notify the security officer. Officers have the ability to conduct alternative screening that includes a visual and physical inspection as well as explosives trace detection sampling of footwear that cannot be removed.
Passengers and shoes will only be subject to additional screening if they alarm or if there is an obstructed view of the items undergoing screening.
TSA Records Liaisons Train and Collaborate on Range of Topics
By Troy K. Manigault, Director, Information Management Programs, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Anthony Ferguson, Records Management Specialist, Office of Information Management Programs, discusses how to properly transfer records between a field office and a local federal records center. Photo by Troy Manigault
TSA's first-ever records management training seminar was recently held with records liaisons from nearly two dozen airport locations.
The pilot seminar, hosted by the Office of Information Management Programs (OIMP), focused on improving records management education and understanding compliance across TSA. The event, held in Austin, Texas, also highlighted the importance of agency-wide collaboration between TSA and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which provided analysts for technical insight and support. OIMP is a division of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.
The seminar provided a unique opportunity for field employees to engage TSA and NARA records officials on a range of topics that impact field administration and operations, including proper maintenance and disposal of leave slips and travel card applications; options for scanning paper records; and appropriate clearances and approvals necessary for creating agency forms.
"The first regional TSA Records Management Seminar was a resounding success," said Susan Means, a NARA Senior Records Analyst. "The synergy generated by bringing together records staff from different locations to share information, and network with their counterparts in the regions and with TSA, was obvious considering the enthusiastic response from participants."
As a result of the discussions, the Records Management Program staff is collaborating with offices to draft and issue program policy and guidance intended to help address and clarify records-related issues.
Ceydi Mendoza, a Program Analyst from Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, said the training provided a renewed sense of confidence to do her job. "I found the training invigorating and extremely helpful," she said.
Information on program policy and guidance, and future seminars, will be posted on the intranet's Records Management Program section, which is available by choosing Directives & Forms on the iShare home page.
This Week’s Featured Local Newsletter
PHL Freedom, published by TSA Philadelphia International Airport, is that airport's first ever newsletter offered online. Featured on the airport's TSA Office of Model Workplace iShare site, the April issue provides employees a collection of employee news, puzzles, articles and photos. Organized by topic, the issue includes news on the National Advisory Council, Evolution and TSA Philadelphia's Woman of the Year.
An archive of featured newsletters is available on iShare in the Communications Central section, which is linked from the home page. In the same section, the DHS branding guideline document is available in PDF for download. The DHS branding guideline helps ensure consistency in imagery, color, and appearance of all Department publications.
Kudos & Clips
TSA Steps up Your X-ray Shoe-in
By Brandon Long, WMGT-TV (Macon, Ga.), May 19, 2009
The Transportation Security Administration now wants travelers to put their shoes directly on the X-ray machine belt, not in plastic bins. Why the change? Read more.
Airport Security Bares all, or Does It?
By Jessica Ravitz, CNN, May 18, 2009
Privacy advocates plan to call on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to suspend use of "whole-body imaging," the airport security technology that critics say performs "a virtual strip search" and produces "naked" pictures of passengers, CNN has learned. Read more.
I just wanted to pass on a compliment for Supervisory TSO Kerene Dewolf, Raleigh-Durham [N.C.] International Airport. My daughter and I were on a recent trip, and were in need of some information and help. Not only was STSO Dewolf very helpful and knowledgeable, but also most pleasant. She is a great role model for your agency.
Barbara Jezior of Murrieta, Calif., to Amy Hatcher Humpherson, Customer Support and Quality Improvement Manager, Raleigh-Durham (N.C.) International Airport and Eastern N.C. spoke airports. April 30, 2009.
TSA Experience
Missouri's Branson Airport Opens for Business
By PJ Phillips, Transportation Security Manager, Branson Airport (Hollister, Mo.)
Branson Airport's uniformed officers include permanently assigned and TDY officers. Photo by Rod Chana
The first privately owned and funded commercial airport in the U.S. opened May 11 in Hollister, Mo., with an air show featuring the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flight team and the Army Golden Nights parachute demonstration team.
The Branson Airport is a federalized Category III spoke of the Kansas City International Airport, under the leadership of FSD John Della Jacono, with operational direction and regulation provided by TSA at the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
The airport provides easy access to the area's nationally recognized country music venues and is currently serviced by AirTran and SunCountry airlines, with additional airline service expected to be announced in the near future.
"TSA worked with the airport authority to ensure that security was appropriately incorporated into the new airport design," said Della Jacono. "The cooperation and hard work by everyone involved made this project an overwhelming success."
Honor Flight Takes Veterans Through Mobile, Ala.
Photo by Kip Saucier
Officers at Alabama's Mobile Regional Airport created a special checkpoint lane for a group of World War II veterans traveling May 6 through the airport to Washington, D.C., as part of the Honor Flight program. The program arranges for veterans to board a charter flight and spend the day in D.C. visiting national monuments and war memorials. When the veterans returned to Mobile, they were greeted by cheering crowds, military salutes, and marching bands. More than 20 were wheelchair bound. TSA Mobile's Inspections branch also organized a centrally located check-in desk to speed up the screening process. "This is such a fantastic way to honor all of those who have so bravely served our country," said FSD Gail Linkins. "We are thrilled to be a part of this effort and offer our gratitude to these great American heroes." Pictured is TSO Joshua Gates with a World War II veteran.
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