TSA Weekly: Feb 2 - 6, 2009
 Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams such as this one, powered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), CBP's Air and Marine Interdiction Team, Lakeland (Fla.) Police, TSA, Federal Air Marshal Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, kept commercial and general aviation airports safe before, during and after Super Bowl XLIII. Read more. Photo by Sari Koshetz |
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A Message from Gale:
'It's all About the People'
A Profile of Keith Kauffman, Acting Deputy Administrator
Photo by Andy Szul
Keith Kauffman, TSA's acting deputy administrator, has been involved in intelligence for his entire career. Before joining TSA in May 2007 as the deputy assistant administrator for Intelligence, he had worked at the National Security Agency for 24 years and spent a few years before that with the Army's Intelligence and Security Command. But even Keith was surprised when Kip Hawley turned to him last year as they drove back from a congressional hearing and asked, "How would you like having over 50,000 people working for you?"
"That's when I understood the role Kip and Gale wanted intelligence to play in the Security Evolution process," Keith recalls, referring to the overhaul of checkpoint security that has led to the rollout of the ENGAGE! and COACH! training programs. "It was to raise the threat awareness of the workforce and teach our TSOs to process information, like intelligence analysts are taught to do."
TSOs, like intelligence analysts, are inundated with information. TSA intelligence analysts sift through numerous reports from a variety of sources, to identify important nuggets of information to further our understanding of specific threats. TSOs sift through the faces, the belongings they put in bins, and the actions of hundreds and hundreds of people every day, to identify the individual or individuals who intend to do us harm. It's the cognitive processes they go through, and use of the intuition they've developed over many years of experience that make intelligence analysts and TSOs similar and enable them both to be successful.
One thing that Keith is especially passionate about is developing the next generation of leaders at TSA. "TSA has a number of excellent leadership development programs underway and it's been a top priority of mine as well, to coach and mentor the next generation of leaders at TSA. TSA is a learning organization and it has to be that way, to stay ahead of an adaptive and innovative adversary."
The way intelligence is used at TSA, is exactly why Keith jumped at the chance to join the Agency two years ago. "It was an easy decision, because I wanted to conclude my government career helping to secure our homeland at a place where intelligence is valued and used on a daily basis to inform decision makers and help guide security operations. That's what makes TSA unique. It's a front-line operations agency that fully and visibly embraces intelligence, driving how we accomplish the mission every day."
Keith had the opportunity to visit several airports a few months back and interacted directly with TSOs working checkpoints and screening baggage. "In every person I met, I saw a tremendous amount of pride and dedication to their jobs. I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for their professionalism and the contributions that every single TSO makes to the security of America every day."
"As the acting deputy administrator, I can assure every TSA employee that business will go on as usual throughout the transition period," Keith declares. "Nothing will change in terms of organizational direction and important initiatives. Security Evolution, especially, will proceed as planned. Just keep doing the great work you've been doing!"
TSA Senior Leaders Stay Engaged With the Field
By Wesley Henderson, Evolution Team
Kelly Hoggan (center), deputy assistant administrator for Security Operations, visits with Raleigh-Durham, N.C., employees - from left, Expert Security Transportation Inspector Ed Wyatt; TSO Tersha Cox; Master Security Transportation Inspector Clarence McClain; and Supervisory TSO Kerence DeWolf. Photo courtesy of TSA Raleigh-Durham
Kelly Hoggan, deputy assistant administrator for Security Operations, was in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., earlier this month to participate in ENGAGE! training. His visit was part of the senior leadership initiative to practice the principles of ENGAGE! and COACH! by crisscrossing the country and sharing the training experience with TSA's frontline workforce.
"This course demonstrates experiential learning at its best," said Hoggan. "It highlights the Team Spirit that TSA embraces as a core value; provides employees with new tools; and teaches how to leverage the knowledge and experience of others in the class to be better equipped to mitigate a constantly evolving threat to transportation security on the front line."
Hoggan attended the class anonymously to keep the focus on ENGAGE! principles and only made the others aware of his presence at the end of the second day. Participants in his class had a diverse representation of workforce positions and experiences, including officers, managers and inspectors.
By completing the training in the field, TSA's senior leaders are able to add to the diversity of the knowledge and experience levels in the classroom and add valuable insight to the conversations and exercises.
Additionally, the executives and senior leaders will witness first hand the opportunities and challenges felt by employees in the field as TSA empowers its workforce to become a network of security professionals with a dynamic and proactive approach to security.
If you are scheduled for an upcoming ENGAGE! class, be on the lookout – you never know who may be in the seat next to you, and who you can bring into your network.
Large Handmade Quilt Symbolic of Commitment
By Carrie Harmon, Office of Strategic Communications/Public Affairs
Photo by Van Harne
When Lead TSO Chuck Croat of Des Moines International Airport was chosen as an ENGAGE! and COACH! trainer, his wife showed her support by creating a magnificent Security Evolution quilt to "show my husband that I was proud of what he was doing and to help support TSA's very important mission."
"I could see how exhausted everyone was trying to keep up with the teaching schedule," said Peggy Croat, who made the quilt in less than two months. "Yet every time Chuck would come home from a trip across the state, he would light up when he talked about each class. So even though I'm a novice quilter, I wanted this quilt to be a tribute to the team who taught the class, but also to everyone who took it."
The white quilt includes the Evolution and TSA logos and other significant symbols from the ENGAGE! and COACH! classes.
Croat, who joined TSA Des Moines in 2002, said that a couple of years ago, Peggy created displays of TSA uniform patches and his father-in-law made frames for the pieces, which hang in the airport's TSA offices.
The quilt is currently at TSA headquarters, where it was signed by Gale Rossides, now the acting administrator, and by former administrator Kip Hawley before his recent departure. It will be returned to Des Moines this month, where it will be on permanent display.
"Chuck Croat is one of our shining stars here in Iowa," said FSD Jay Brainard. "Peg not only supports him, but all of us. This extraordinary piece of artwork will be a constant reminder that our work is important and that our efforts are appreciated every day."
Evolution: In the FSD's Own Words
ENGAGE! is about increasing security; however, its by-product is better customer service. Calming down the checkpoint allows us to more easily recognize the threat through the use of our intuition and experience, but to the traveling public, calming down the checkpoint is seen as a positive approach to customer service. - FSD Mike Irwin, Portland (Ore.) International Airport
Engage the Evolution team with your questions and suggestions at ENGAGEevolution@dhs.gov.
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TSA Employees Raise Money for CFC
From the Office of Strategic Communications/Public Affairs
From left, Dulles Lead TSO Andrew Ayres, Supervisory TSO Joan Lawrence, Lead TSO Jemi Myers, and TSO Crystal Robinson help at a breakfast fundraiser that raised nearly $600. Myers and Robinson were key workers. Photo by Mary Ham
Across the country, employees held fundraising events and contributed money for charities through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the nation's leading workplace-giving program. TSA headquarters employees in the National Capital Area achieved 82 percent of the 2008 CFC, collecting $484,941. The average contribution was $319 per employee, with approximately 1,500 donors and a 35 percent participation rate. In 2007, TSA headquarters employees raised $443,809.
With a struggling economy, these figures are especially noteworthy and much needed for the more than 4,000 charities that receive funding from the CFC. TSA's contributions represent 15 percent of the total contribution of $3.2 million by DHS employees.
A friendly challenge pitted TSA officers and employees at Dallas-Fort Worth against colleagues at airports in Shreveport, Alexandria and Monroe, La., to see which group could increase its contributions by the highest percentage. The Louisiana airports won, raising $8,423, an 88 percent increase. Dallas-Forth Worth raised more than $85,000, up about $10,000 from 2007.
"The point of this contest was to raise the visibility of CFC within our respective airports," said Robert Nunnery, assistant federal security director in Shreveport. "The real winner here is charity," said Carl Glusick, transportation security manager and co-chair of the CFC campaign at Dallas-Fort Worth.
Employees at Miami International Airport exceeded their goal and raised more than $17,000. Fundraising events included bake, breakfast and hot dog sales and a silent auction. "It was inspiring to see fellow officers come together for a charitable cause," said TSO Andre Williams.
In South Carolina, Charleston and Myrtle Beach employees contributed $29,388. "Our employees know what a difference a CFC agency can make in someone's life, and their efforts to support CFC have increased yearly," said FSD Debra Engel.
TSA Dulles raised $29,508, nearly double last year. Lead TSO Jemi "Cissy" Myers, chair of the airport's TSA Employee Council, was called a key worker "superstar" by co-workers after she coordinated four fundraisers that raised $1,897. Myers also collected more than half of the 127 total pledges submitted from her assigned checkpoint. She said the secret to her success was to "ask people to give."
Wichita STSO Honored for Volunteer Work with Local Sheriff's Office
By Carrie Harmon, Office of Strategic Communications/Public Affairs
Photo by Lamecia Rockey
Wichita Mid-Continent Airport Supervisory TSO Sean Chambers was recently honored as "Reserve Deputy Sheriff of the Year" for Sedgwick County, Kan.
It makes me feel good that I'm helping to protect my wife and kids and the general public both at TSA and at the Sheriff's Office," said Chambers, who supervises the local TSA Coordination Center.
Chambers, who was Wichita's 2008 TSA Officer of the Year, said, "Our recent COACH and ENGAGE courses emphasized ‘command presence,' which to me means politely taking control of a situation. When I'm asked to do something, it gets done. It's nice to be recognized for that."
Chambers joined TSA in fall 2004 as a TSO. He was promoted to lead in early 2007 and to supervisor in late 2008. "I'm proud to be part of this organization and look forward to continuing to grow with it," he said.
Wichita FSD Keith Osborn said Sean "has earned the respect of his superiors, peers and subordinates at TSA for his 'can do attitude' and his reputation as the ‘one to call' for any task."
TSA Boston Uses SharePoint to Engage Employees
Screen capture courtesy of TSA Boston
The Boston Communications Network (BCN), a specially branded SharePoint site, gives the TSA Massachusetts workforce easy access to information, including material on local components and key technology updates. For example, the Boston Security Coordination Center provides the status of every part of the screening operation through reports that are updated live on the site. In addition, dynamically updated lists containing the status of key technology updates are posted on the "State of Tech" section and Boston's pioneering Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques program is also represented. "Part of Security Evolution is enhancing the 'network' that connects us all," said Federal Security Director George Naccara. "By recognizing this need early on, our BCN site has grown to be at the forefront of ensuring that all departments at all levels can communicate quickly to address the constantly evolving threat."
Workforce On the Web
- Check out the new workforce story from Florida: Palm Beach Officer Rescues Man From Wreckage
Kudos & Clips
A woman and her mother were having big trouble figuring out the system – clearly they didn’t fly much. … I saw TSO Kathy Diers guide the woman … to a chair near me. The woman was in tears. The staff member then guided the mother there as well. TSO Victoria (Vickie) Coley showed up, hand carrying all their stuff to them … and I heard one say, “We thought you’d be more comfortable repacking your things over here.” The woman told the officers that she was traveling with her 89-year-old my mother and that, “It’s just too much!” As a frequent traveler, I tend to be vaguely annoyed when people find heightened security measures difficult or inconvenient. … Given this, it was just really heartwarming to see your staff members treat this woman and her mother with such kindness and empathy.
Deirdre Flint, Philadelphia, Pa., to Gloria Campbell, customer support and quality improvement manager, Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers. Jan. 18, 2009.
When I went through the security X-ray checkpoint, I mistakenly forgot to retrieve my wallet and house key. About 20 minutes later, moments before I was to board the aircraft, TSO Eddy Benavente took the initiative to look into the wallet, get my phone number, and call me … TSO Benavente told me that his staff turned in the wallet when they noticed it was not claimed. TSO Benavente and his staff are heroes. They are a tremendous asset to your organization, and exemplary public servants.
Jesse Arnstein, Fort Dix, N.J., to Larry Callahan, terminal manager, Newark (N.J.) Liberty International Airport. Jan. 27, 2009.
Tampa International Airport Running Smoothly Despite Super Bowl Exodus
By Drew Harwell and Steve Huettel, St. Petersburg Times, Feb. 2, 2009
The citywide exodus of Super Bowl visitors began early this morning at Tampa International Airport, with officials expecting the busiest day in more than a year. Read more.
The TSA Experience
Officer Receives Eagle Eye Award for Discovery
Photo by Gary Smith
TSO David Marroquin was recently recognized at Miami International Airport with an Eagle Eye award after discovering a stun gun inside a passenger's bag. The award noted that "his determination and attentiveness on duty" played a vital role in preventing a prohibited item from entering the sterile area. Transportation Security Manager Gary Smith praised Marroquin for his "exceptional X-ray detection skills, diligence, and enthusiasm to the mission."
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