TSA's Kolmstetter Named Fellow

News & Happenings

May 1, 2007

Elizabeth Kolmstetter, Ph.D

Elizabeth Kolmstetter, Ph.D, director of Human Capital Development in the Office of Human Capital (OHC), was inducted into the Fellowship of the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology (SIOP) on Friday, April 27, at the society's annual conference in New York. During the conference, Kolmstetter presented information about development of the transportation security officer selection process, which was recognized last year with the M. Scott Myers Award for Applied Research in the Workplace.

The award recognizes the outstanding practice of industrial and organization (I-O) psychology in the workplace and is given based on multiple criteria including having a sound technical/scientific basis; advancing objectives of clients/users; promoting full use of human potential; complying with applicable psychological, legal, and ethical standards; improving the acceptance of I-O psychology in the workplace; and showing innovation and excellence.

"Elizabeth was instrumental in establishing, beginning immediately after the creation of TSA, the skill standards and selection system used by the agency," said Richard Whitford, assistant administrator for Human Capital. "The recognition she is receiving is well-deserved."

Kolmstetter is one of only two SIOP fellows currently employed by the federal government. She is an I-O psychologist and works in the area of strategic human capital development to ensure the TSA workforce is skilled, evaluated and continuously improving.

Kolmstetter joined TSA in January 2002 when she led the development, validation and implementation of the new federal screener (now transportation security officer) skill standards and selection system.

Society fellows are distinguished industrial and organizational psychologists who have made an unusual and outstanding contribution demonstrated by their scholarship and impact on the field of psychology.