Optimization Teams Help TSA Serve Passengers While Securing Air Travel
News & Happenings
June 27, 2007
What's at a checkpoint? Is it just some lane you pass through in hopes of getting through quickly during the screening process?
Actually, extensive planning goes into the design and layout of each checkpoint at airports across the nation. Currently, TSA "optimization teams" led by Ron Juhl, optimization branch chief, Office of Security Operations, are partnering with TSA federal security directors (FSDs) at U.S. airports to find and suggest best practices that will have positive effects for passengers and Transportation Security Officers (TSOs). The goal -- to marry the mission of securing the traveling public and providing convenient flow through the checkpoint.
The challenging mission of the optimization teams is to understand and implement changes that complement an airport's checkpoint layout, scheduling and manpower resources. The teams make enhancements that will increase throughput of passengers, positively affect wait times and secure the well-being of the TSO while maximizing security. Since the nation's 450 commercial airports each have their own unique design and layout, this is no small feat.
Kathleen Petrowsky, FSD at O'Hare International Airport, said, "Ron's team has done a great job partnering with the TSA staff to make enhancements that will benefit the traveling public through Chicago."
Juhl's teams began site visits in May of 2006 and have visited 30 airports to date. They will continue visiting the nation's largest airports over the summer.
