TSA Unveils Team Approach

TSA Administrator Kip Hawley(far right) and TSA Team:      “Picking out one singular scenario and calling for 100% measures and devoting resources to just that means you run out of resources.”

     Yesterday may be remembered as the day that U.S. air cargo security received the clearest message yet that major change is afoot at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as that agency’s top administrator Kip Hawley came forward with a plain speaking keynote address providing a rousing start while naming names that air cargo can talk to up close and personal as new security modes are developed.
     Hawley spoke at Air Cargo 2007 taking place this week (March 11-13) in Phoenix Arizona.
     Air Cargo 2007 is the annual trade show and conference for the Air and Expedited Motor Carriers Association (AEMCA), the Airforwarders Association (AfA), and the Express Delivery & Logistics Association (XLA).
     “The question of security is not a question of if the industry can work in this environment, but can all the players connect with the government for real sustainable cooperation measures?
     The first part of partnership is forming a connection.
     You need to know who you can talk to about moving the ball forward.
     Who is at the top of the (TSA) food chain?
     John Sammon works on the transportation network group.
     At TSA, we have an office of security, which works with airlines, law enforcement who works with marshals and the network group.
     The network group is in the business to work with operators and hear if what we are doing is actually providing real security value.
     John Sammon has 30 years in the cargo industry on the rail side with CSX.
     When we hired John, we wanted someone who understood freight operations and could connect with government experts to bring a lifetime of understanding to the process, while also understanding those on the cargo side.
     We’re also happy to have Ed Kelley, as general manager for air cargo, who is the point person for air cargo.
     Ed is the air cargo gatekeeper.
     He served at Hellman and UPS and also “gets it”.
     So now TSA has senior leadership who can connect with you at your level.
     One of our big problems as an industry is to stay focused and realize it’s a real thing we are involved.
     From a network approach, we look at the supply chain both horizontally and vertically.
     Horizontal looks evaluate what is in the box and how did it get here?
     Vertical is what happens at the airport, what measures do we have at the airport to ensure security via canines and other methods at the airport.
     How do we look at our security?
     It’s connecting on what’s there.
     What is already there is a robust intelligence community and information – those components are conducted and share information.
     TSA is focused on creating layers, flexibility and dynamic approaches to cargo.
     We don’t want to present a static target.
     Instead, we introduce new ways to deal with cargo.
     At each airport we have folks moving around to cover a wired area.
     We are not about focal point security. Focal point security is a real danger for our homeland security policy – the concept, for example, is screening 100% of airport employees.
     Picking out one singular scenario and calling for 100% measures and devoting resources to just that means you run out of resources.
     We need to move away from that approach that is compliance oriented.
     So if a 100% screening offers fixed compliance based security, we need an alternative security policy that is thinking and adapting to the environment.
     TSA is looking to give discretion to front line workers.
     Inspectors are looking to make sure operators are practicing security.
     We are engaged and have a shared responsibility.
     The inspectors believe that and are working towards that goal—not to get a compliance violation.
     Our primary goal is not to shut people down and grade people.
     You can help by embracing inspectors and accepting that.
     Make them your partner.
     Other piece is international. Recently we came up with one security system across U.S. and Canada, and now also with the EU and Australia and Japan. This was the first time we negotiated a security regime ahead of issuing a plan to deal with exchanging information and science to deal with this particular security threat.
     This is the first time we have one single approach across lines – air cargo is next. We want a harmonized approach throughout North America and hopefully the EU as well.
     Also, we are working within DHS to make it a single agency and work with CBP to deal and learn with CTPAT and not reinvent programs, but integrate them into one solution.
     IDs – we want to know whom you are picking the package up from.
     We are trying to secure the supply chain and are working on how to do this without disrupting the chain.
     Regardless of how that policy, we need to engage with you and understand the experiences and put policies into place that work.
     “We all have responsibility to secure air cargo.”