Career Progression Program
Focus on People
Last summer, TSA announced a new Career Progression Program offering transportation security officers, or TSOs, additional opportunities for professional growth through the establishment of the new "E" pay band. The plan allows TSOs to continue to advance in their work based on their skills and performance; this will open up more opportunities for TSOs to potentially qualify for security, protection, or law enforcement jobs elsewhere within the Department of Homeland Security.
"The new Career Progression Program offers our security officers a much-improved career path, one that will allow you to grow into new challenging jobs while being better compensated," said TSA Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley.
The program also offers merit-based promotions for experienced TSOs and employees on specialized technical career tracks such as bomb appraisal officer and behavior detection officer. TSOs at the D band who have completed at least two years with the agency and who have a favorable performance appraisal are eligible for the E band.
In addition, the E band will offer a new, specialized position of TSO equipment technician, rewarding employees who help maintain security equipment.
"People love the mission and feel passionate about the work they are doing," said TSA's Gale Rossides, associate administrator for business transformation and culture. "To retain and grow our high performing workforce, we knew we had to implement a professional career path and broaden their career development opportunities."
Career Progression also creates technical tracks of master and expert TSOs (F and G bands, respectively). Those are competitively selected positions that recognize TSOs whose experience and knowledge enable them to independently complete more complex security screening work and perform specialized functions.
The level of security TSA provides is directly related to a stable TSO workforce, because the longer they remain on the job, the more profi cient they become at providing security and the more able they are at taking on more complex work. According to Rossides, most TSO attrition takes place at the D pay band due to lack of career opportunities. "The new career paths should help TSA as an organization by improving employee morale and by retaining experienced security officers," she added.
In addition to signifi cantly broadening advancement opportunities for TSOs, the new pay grade also complements other recent TSO initiatives such as retention incentives, the new pay-for-performance system, more extensive training, and improved technology.
"Our goal is to create a work environment with increased job satisfaction, higher retention and enhanced performance. All of these things will contribute to better security for the traveling public," said Hawley.
