DATE: October 23, 2020
TO: All Personnel: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF
FROM: Robert A. Duffy, Federal Security Director: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF
SUBJECT: Weekly Update
I hope you are all doing well. This week was eventful as we had a visit at LGA from TSA Deputy Administrator Miklos on Tuesday; we graduated our fourth session of the LTSO Training Class and we began the ISAT process at Terminal B, in LGA this week to start certifying Lanes 10 – 15. Upon completion, we will have all lanes operational. We also received confirmation of deliveries of CAT units to ISP and HPN.
The visit by Deputy Administrator (DADM) Miklos was very successful. He started his visit by watching a K-9 demonstration by K-9 Unit Manager Nathan Chase, EDCH Jorge Gallo and Mongo on an American Airlines aircraft. After a meeting with the FAMS, he then met with many of our officers in Terminal B. I took the opportunity to explain the numerous challenges all of you at LGA have had to work through such as the pandemic, closure of the subways from 0100 – 0500 every night, rioting and civil disobedience across NYC, the opening of a new terminal and the 12,000 hours of required training needed to open on time, and the opening date changing 5 times before finally opening on June 13. I let the DADM know how proud I am of all of you and of your courage and devotion to the TSA mission and to the oath of office we all took which allowed us to always open on time and no flights were ever cancelled because TSA-LGA are always on the job and keeping the passengers safe. The DADM was extremely impressed and later mentioned the tremendous respect he has for everyone at LGA who pressed on through the adversity.
I want to remind all of you to please take the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) by November 5. You can take it while at work and we will give you up to 30 minutes of time during the day to get on a computer and complete the survey. I pay attention to the results. We will continue to do what we are doing well, and can focus our energy on the areas we need to improve upon. Your input through the FEVS survey is important in helping us become more successful.
I also want to ask all of you to please take the time to donate to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). There are many worthwhile charities that you can contribute to in an effort to help others. It doesn’t matter the amount you contribute, but the rather the act of giving to help those in need.
We will be receiving new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units for the TDC positions at ISP and HPN next week. LGA will receive two CT units the week of November 9. ISP already received a CT unit, so LGA can look to ISP for lessons learned to help with the transition.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the officers at HPN and SWF who have been assisting the LGA ATLAS team. HPN officers have come to LGA and SWF officers have backfilled at HPN. Your exceptional teamwork is greatly appreciated.
For the past four weeks we have been conducting LTSO training in an effort to set our LTSOs up for success and to become excellent leaders. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I spend with each class. A big thank you goes to TSM Sandra Bissoon for taking on the challenge of creating the training program, STSOs Kerri Ursol, Jonathan Greene, Tahjib Zaman and LTSO Maribel Saltzman of HPN for making the classes so successful. The focus of my instruction is leadership and the traits I expect in everyone who is a leader at LGA, SWF, HPN and ISP. Those traits are character, virtue and honor. All leaders need to possess those qualities in order to be successful. Character is best described as being a person of honesty and integrity; doing what is inherently right, even when no one is watching. Virtue is having high moral standards. Honor is adhering to what is right, even when doing what is right is not popular or easy. In living by these standards, each person can be a successful leader and enjoy not just a successful career, but a successful and rewarding life.
Since DFSD McKeon has been in Wyoming, we talk and e-mail regularly every week. He is doing well and has been applying some of our procedures to help improve the Wyoming airports.
I want to thank you all again for your outstanding effort, professionalism and teamwork throughout this year of immense adversity. I am proud of all of you and thank you all for your continued efforts in keeping our Nation safe and our citizens secure.
Respectfully,
Bob Duffy
