Employee Stories
Close bond makes TSA canine team top dogs
May 23, 2023
The tight bond between a dog and his handler is paying off. TSA named Koa Purugganan the agency’s 2022 Canine Handler of the Year during the annual TSA Honorary Awards Ceremony this month. Purugganan described the feeling of learning he…
Spotlight on Tim Lam celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 17, 2023
First generation Vietnamese-American Tim Lam brings his dedicated work ethic and respect for diversity to his supervisory TSA duties at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas. “When I got in, I was very…
Denver’s Chelsea Scott earns TSA Officer of the Year Award
May 16, 2023
Out of tens of thousands of TSA officers across the country, Chelsea Scott earned the prestigious title of 2022 Transportation Security Officer (TSO) of the Year. Scott, who was honored at last week’s annual…
Honor Flight takes off from the Caribbean
May 15, 2023
An honor guard stood at attention waiting for the VIP guests to arrive. One by one veterans wheeled or walked their way into a designated screening area at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “…
Working together: mother-daughter duo at Pittsburgh International Airport
May 12, 2023
Down the halls of Pittsburgh International Airport, TSA Master Security Training Instructor Tara Costlow is often greeted with a “Hey, Mom!” from her close colleagues. The affectionate nickname started after Tara’s daughter, Ivy Costlow, joined…
Sacramento TSA officer rushes to help airline employee hurt in car crash
May 11, 2023
A certain kinship exists among those who work at an airport. This is very true at Sacramento International Airport (SMF), where the aviation community is committed to delivering top tier services to residents and visitors in California’s capital…
Alabama TSA inspector wants agency to be longtime landing spot
May 10, 2023
Imagine being a TSA inspector (TSI) in Birmingham, Alabama, and deciding one day to reach out to the agency’s Administrator and creating an instant connection.
Death-match case leads to airline employee arrest
May 8, 2023
A perfect set of circumstances allowed an airline employee to assume a fake identity for nearly 23 years. The man succeeded in remaining under officials’ radar, receiving a U.S. passport, birth certificate and Social Security card from…
Kudos Across America – BOSTON
May 4, 2023
To Whom It May Concern I want to shout out TSA Officer Nancy Aquino at Boston International Logan Airport.
Detroit Metro Airport passenger collapses, TSA officer to the rescue
May 3, 2023
When a passenger suddenly collapsed at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), TSA Officer Dominic Cherenzia quickly stepped in to help. The passenger fell into his luggage after suffering a seizure. Cherenzia, a former emergency…
Guess What I’ve Got in My Shorts?
April 28, 2023
Just when you think you have seen everything, something totally unexpected happens. At Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) Terminal C, an airline employee tried to enter the employee portal but was directed…
Kudos Across America – Queens, New York
April 24, 2023
I wanted to write to acknowledge a TSA employee, John F. Kennedy International Airport [Lead TSA Officer] Nate Thomas who went above and beyond and deserves to be recognized for his outstanding customer care. …
Alert Virginia TSA officers help save pilot's life
April 24, 2023
Two TSA officers were in the middle of a security operation at Virginia’s Richmond International Airport (RIC) when they quickly jumped into action after seeing an airline pilot suddenly collapse. The pilot suffered cardiac arrest.
Kudos Across America – Lincoln, Nebraska
April 19, 2023
I am an African American woman with locs and today I had my hair in a small ponytail. My hair often alerts security and today was no different. It is concerning as a person of color to have my hair touched and picked through by others who may be…
Alaska TSA officers assist fallen passenger
April 18, 2023
Anyone who lives or has spent a winter in a cold northern climate has dealt with the perils of snow and ice! In Nome, Alaska, just below the Arctic Circle and on the Bering Sea coastline, the city freezes by mid-October…
Day in the Life: TSA airport leaders
April 18, 2023
“We would not have a successful screening operation if it weren’t for the workforce.” Those are the words of Stephanie Kenary, TSA deputy assistant federal security director-screening at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (…
Kudos Across America – Rocky Mountain High, in Colorado
April 14, 2023
Gunnison - Crested Butte Regional Airport – GUC To Whom It May Concern, I have been traveling through the Gunnison Regional Airport for over 20 years. In that time, the best service I have experienced has been…
Career growth with TSA’s Mentoring Program
April 12, 2023
Timothy Brookshire joined TSA’s ranks during a new era of his career. After 22 years in law enforcement, Brookshire was ready to shift his professional goals and job path. To achieve this transition, Brookshire applied for the TSA’s…
Overnight hours for TSA inspectors keep aviation safe
April 12, 2023
Work hours can vary for TSA employees on the frontlines, but for TSA inspectors (TSIs), they're often on the job protecting our aviation system while most of us are asleep. Many of our TSIs are on duty…
TSA security specialist bounces back from health scare, earns spot in world canine championships
April 10, 2023
Four years ago, Trisha Harper was in the medical battle of her life. This week, she and her dog are in Romania to compete in the Belgian Shepherd Working Dog World Championships. Harper, a transportation…