Employee Stories
Recovered COVID-19 officer’s return to duty and prohibited items discovery
August 20, 2020
Working as a team in checked baggage, TSA officers Danny Marte and Joey Lenard uncovered an artfully concealed AR-15, three magazines and four boxes of ammunition beneath the zipper liner and wedged under the pull handle in a checked bag. …
Part-time Montana TSA officer brings international security resume to TSA
August 19, 2020
After a thrilling career in security and law enforcement, Peter Mack is now ‘settled down’ as a part-time TSA officer at Montana’s Great Falls International Airport (GTF), but he’s still making a huge impact on our country. Pete brought a…
TSA Honor Guard pays respects to a fallen hero
August 18, 2020
Milwaukee Honor Guard members, Lead Transportation Security Officer Leeroy Smith (LTSO) and Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) Robin Hirschfeld, Carol Ryback and Brandy …
Boston TSA officer saw something, said something
August 12, 2020
TSA officers are trained to screen airport passengers, bags and cargo for prohibited and dangerous items, but Boston Officer Melvin Castellano took his training to the next level. When Castellano saw something suspicious at Boston Logan…
TSA honors Amtrak police chief retiring after 47 years
August 7, 2020
After 47 years in law enforcement, Amtrak Police Chief Neil Trugman is retiring, and TSA paid tribute to him at his retirement ceremony at Union Station in Washington, D.C.
TSA Surface Division Executive Director Scott Gorton and Mass…
Kudos Across America – Denver
August 5, 2020
I had the most awesome people helping me go through security. …
TSA doing its part to keep waters safe during COVID-19
July 30, 2020
TSA is best known for screening travelers at the nation’s airports, but the agency also carries out a key role in securing all parts of the U.S. transportation network, including our waterways. While the U.S. Coast Guard is the lead…
Action and Compassion in Boston
July 30, 2020
The last thing any TSA officer wants to hear during a shift is “Call 911!” That’s exactly what happened on July 14 in the Boston/Logan International Airport (BOS) when a passenger, traveling with his two young daughters, fell to the ground…
Situational awareness and teamwork at Boston Logan International Airport prevents security breach
July 27, 2020
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer reacted quickly to stop a man who attempted to get through an exit lane and into the secure area of Boston Logan International Airport. Transportation Security Officer (TSO) Claudia Vigliotta…
Los Angeles employee group connects with workforce
July 21, 2020
Connecting with every TSA officer is a challenge the agency’s leadership tackles head-on every day. It’s an especially huge challenge at our nation’s largest airports. “With over 2,000 officers and personnel at Los Angeles International…
COBRA exercise strengthens TSA’s law enforcement partnerships
July 20, 2020
TSA employees recently came together with 14 law enforcement partners from federal, state and local agencies to hone their skills during a Collaborative Operation By Response Agency (COBRA) deployment exercise. This collaborative and…
TSA Oregon Holds Virtual Professional Workshops
July 17, 2020
Even with so much going on in the present, TSA Oregon hasn’t forgotten to prepare for the future. When Oregon Federal Security Director (FSD) Stephen Taber asked Assistant FSD-Mission Support Kathleen McDonald to create an all-inclusive…
Getting to Know the People in the Know: Chief Medical Officer Dr. Fabrice Czarnecki
July 13, 2020
Editor’s Note: As TSA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Fabrice Czarnecki helps ensure the TSA workforce is mission ready. He manages health policy, maintains medical records and serves as TSA’s physician authority for medical determinations. In…
Off-duty canine Officers ‘dressed to the nines’ for partners’ wedding
July 6, 2020
To watch an explosive detection canine officer and handler working in tandem is to see trust at work. The faith they have in one another radiates through the leash as they unite in one mission and purpose — to sniff out danger. They become life…
California employees’ group plays key role in improving workplace
July 1, 2020
TSA employee morale at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California, and its spoke airports is on the rise, thanks in large part to an employees’ group called the Employee Advisory Council (EAC). Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, TSA’s National…
Getting to know the people in the know: Executive Assistant Administrator Kimberly Walton
June 30, 2020
Editor’s Note: As Executive Assistant Administrator for Enterprise Support for TSA, Kimberly Walton’s responsibilities include overseeing human resources, acquisitions and procurement, training, logistics and other critical enterprise support…
TSA looks toward future with new Administrator’s Intent
June 26, 2020
TSA has its eyes on the future! Administrator David Pekoske this week released the second phase of his Administrator’s Intent (AI). AI 2.0 is designed to build on the successes achieved to date and takes into account lessons learned from…
Acts of kindness in Mississippi
June 25, 2020
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” You’ve probably heard that phrase, which is super relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been a rough time for thousands of TSA employees, but many are facing the adversity with a smile and…
It’s a Dog’s Life
June 15, 2020
A longtime and well-loved TSA canine is calling it a career. TTirado is retiring. …
TSA partners to return essential air service to remote Cold Bay, Alaska
June 15, 2020
“If you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport.” How many TSA officers have used this reply when passengers ask why each airport seems to have its own special way of providing security? This adage has a very special meaning in Alaska.…