Employee Stories

Administrator Pekoske and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Administrator Stacey Fitzmaurice recognize Harry Reid International Airport’s Koa Purugganan as Canine Handler of the Year during the 2022 TSA Honorary Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Bruce Milton)

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…

From left, Tim Lam (wearing a Ao Dai or a modernized Vietnamese traditional garment), with his mom Rose and brother at a Lunar New Year celebration (Photo courtesy of Tim Lam)

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…

Administrator Pekoske and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Administrator Stacey Fitzmaurice recognize Denver International Airport’s Chelsea Scott as Transportation Security Officer of the Year during the 2022 TSA Honorary Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Bruce Milton)

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…

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport Officer help wheel veteran heroes to special screening before their flight. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Z. Cardona)

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.

“…

TSA Officer Ivy Costlow and her mom Master Security Training Instructor Tara Costlow (left photo) and mother-daughter duo at Pittsburgh International Airport. (Photo courtesy of Tara Costlow)

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 International Airport TSA Officer Joshua Pina came to the aid of an airline employee involved in this car crash. (Photo by Sid Hanna)

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 Aviation Inspector Emily Flechas and Administrator Pekoske (Photo by TSA Studio)

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.

TSA INV team members gather to discuss a case along with Investigative Analyst Britainy Neuman (left). (Photo courtesy of Carrie Hill)

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…

: Boston Logan International Airport TSA Officer Nancy Aquino (Photo by Brian Cardona)

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 Metropolitan Wayne County Airport TSA Officer Dominic Cherenzia welcomes a passenger to the TSA checkpoint. (Photo by Robert Gilmore)

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…

(Photo courtesy of TSA BOS)

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…

John F. Kennedy International Airport LTSO Nate Thomas (Photo by Mark David)

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. …

With the help of TSA Officer Nigel Allen, first responders work to revive an airline pilot who collapsed at Richmond International Airport (RIC). (Photo courtesy of TSA RIC)

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.

Lincoln Airport Lead TSA Officer Christina Boyd (Photo by Jeremy Schaefer)

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…

(Image courtesy Wayne Arrington)

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…

From left, George Bush Intercontinental Airport Supervisory TSA Officer Alina Jones, Newark Liberty International Airport TSA Manager Ilary Hernandez, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport TSA Deputy Assistant Federal Security Director-Screening Stephanie Kenary

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 (…

Gunnison - Crested Butte Regional Airport Supervisory TSA Officer Annette Keller (Photo courtesy TSA GUC)

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…

Dwaine Murray (left) and Timothy Brookshire (right), paired up as part of TSA’s Mentoring Program, became fast friends and a source of support for each other’s careers. (Photos provided by Timothy Brookshire and Dwaine Murray)

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…

TSA Inspector Shana Castellanos takes a close look at this aircraft at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) to make sure it’s safe to fly. (Photo by TSA ICT)

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’s Trisha Harper sends her personal canine Einstein to sprint the length of a football field during the American Working Malinois Association National Championships in Mount Dora, Florida, in December 2022. (Photo by Brian Aghajani)

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…