As we approach the Holidays, DFSD Bob Duffy and I want to offer our heartfelt thanks for another incredible year securing America’s Transportation System. From Checkpoint and Checked Baggage screening to VIPR activities at rail and subway stations to Regulatory inspections and investigations and to US Secret Service details in support of the President, Vice President, Pope, and the UN General Assembly, you all continue to amaze us with your dedication, resourcefulness, and performance. Every one of our 4 airports pulled together this past year to accomplish our unique and critical mission. We all know that the work of TSA is not easy. TSA faced enormous criticism earlier this year, but instead of letting that criticism gets the best of us, you re-dedicated yourselves to “Detecting the Threat --- Resolving the Alarm --- and Not Letting Yourself get Talked out of Doing the Right Thing!” You all know that the terrorism threat facing our country is at a very high level. It is higher than I have seen in my 36+ years in the Federal Government. You also know that the threat can come from passengers or insiders. America needs us now, more than ever, to protect the nation’s transportation systems.
In the past year you have all gone through an 8 hour Mission Essentials training course taught by the TSS-Es and STIs. We will continue with the next phase of that training in 2016 by focusing on the AT-2 Xray. TSA has just recently re-written the SOPs and changed some procedures to make us more effective at detecting the items that we know our adversary wants to get onto an airplane. We will continue to practice, train and test to constantly improve our performance and stay ahead of our adversaries.
Bob and I wish you all the happiness this Holiday Season. I know that many of you will be working extended hours to meet the enormous screening demands that the Holiday brings and we thank you for that deep dedication to TSA’s mission. As I have said before, I am incredibly proud to be your Federal Security Director.
Happy Holidays!
/S/
Dan Ronan & Bob Duffy
