I am a frequent traveler who recently retired from Department of Homeland Security (DHS). My travel was mostly with DHS, and now it is due to my college employment as well as being a coach for the local high school football team.
Kodiak, Alaska is a small island with only two ways off – air or marine. As you can imagine, this can create quite the crowded scene at the airport, especially during heavy tourist season, as Kodiak Island is an outdoorsman's paradise for fishing and hunting. Now add to this the constant amount of high school sports teams that travel in and out of Kodiak. We are an island, and the only way our teams can play one another is by traveling to the island or us traveling off the island.
Kodiak Benny Benson State Airport (ADQ) Supervisory TSA Officer Sarah Webb has been a shining example of what TSA supervisors should be. I consider her the tip of the spear when it comes to professionalism, leadership and the way she is calm under stressful situations. As a retired Commander from the Coast Guard, I know first-hand that folks like her are one in a million. Not only are we lucky to have her here, I know TSA is lucky to have her as well. She goes above and beyond, ensuring passenger safety while maintaining a kind, professional demeanor with passengers, even our high school football team who can sometimes be a handful. I have personally witnessed her step in for subordinates and calm passengers down when subordinates were not able to. Not once have I witnessed her not be professional or handle a situation with tact and honest concern for the situation at hand.
I have always thanked her, but I feel that your organization should be made aware of this as well.
Thank you for your time,
Captain Rich Gonzalez, USCG
Captains License (Master, 100 Ton) Maritime Workforce Coordinator
By Wayne Carey, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs