New FSD Rises Through Ranks, Sets Her Own Course
News & Happenings
June 20, 2007
As far as airports go, newly-minted Lehigh Valley International Airport (Allentown, Pa.) Federal Security Director Nichelle Richardson has seen them from nearly every viewpoint.
Before joining TSA at Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) in May 2002, she was a flight attendant for US Airways, also based at BWI. Earlier still, she worked as a police officer in Montgomery County, Md.
During the last five years, Richardson has served in a number of roles at TSA BWI. Since October 2004, she has been the deputy assistant FSD for screening, supervising checkpoint operations.
Previously, she had been a security manager, and most notably, she began her tenure with TSA as a supervisory TSO – making her the first ever federal security director to rise through the ranks from the frontline workforce.
"I'm proof positive that TSA has numerous opportunities for career advancement," says Richardson, who assumes her new post in July 2007. "It's important to be proactive and learn from the interview experience, and always remember that you're the captain of your own destiny."
In recent months, Richardson has also been detailed to TSA headquarters to work with senior leadership on agency-wide workforce issues. She will be leaving the Baltimore area for the first time in her security and aviation career to head up operations at Lehigh Valley.
"I could not be more proud of Nichelle. She progressed through the ranks at TSA through hard work, dedication and achievement," said BWI FSD Admiral Jim Schear. "To paraphrase an old television commercial, her promotion to FSD was made the old fashioned way: 'she earned it.'"
