DATE: December 23, 2020
TO: All Personnel: LGA, SWF, HPN, ISP
FROM: Robert A. Duffy, Federal Security Director: LGA, SWF, HPN, ISP
SUBJECT: Weekly Update
Let me begin by thanking all of you for your continued service to the Nation.
On Saturday, December 12, we had TSA-LGA personnel travel to the US Military Academy at West Point, NY to assist the US Secret Service with screening the entire Corps of Cadets and the Brigade of Midshipmen from the US Naval Academy prior to the Army – Navy game. President Trump attended the game, thus the need for extensive security screening at the stadium. We had 19 of our officers and managers work this event. The team’s attention to detail, communication and teamwork were exceptional and I am proud of everyone involved and the work you did that day. The team consisted of Razu Ali, Joshua Edwards, Shirley Durjour, Carlos Hernandez, Jose Perez, Indiana Lopez, Anita Shivprasad, Rebecca Vera, Melissa Motilal, Justin Rios, Vermolene Brooks, Michelle Virgilio, Luis Cintron, Joe Rodriguez, Daryl Williams, Nelson Delrosario, Ronnie Levia and Managers Sandra Bissoon and Roy Ramirez. Thank you all for your professionalism and a job well done.
As we near the end of 2020, please be advised that if you have any “use or lose” time at the end of the year, you can carry it over for up to three years, or through December 31, 2023. You do not need to take any action. The affected time will be credited to your leave balance by March, 2021.
Thank you to all who worked through the major snow storm last week. All of our airports were affected to varying degrees. Thanks to Steve O’Briskie and our FSU team for moving vehicles before the storm and then returning them afterward. I appreciate the effort at LGA to be at Terminal A for a scheduled Jet Blue flight at 0645. While the flight didn’t depart on time, I respect the effort our officers made to screen the passengers and their baggage for that flight.
Yesterday, I was on a conference call concerning the COVID-19 vaccine. There will be more information coming in the near future from TSA-HQ. The main points for you are that the vaccine is voluntary. Quite a few of you have asked me about this at the checkpoints. On Monday, December 28, we will be sending pout a text message from the CC asking all of you if you are interested in receiving the vaccine. A simple “Yes” or “No” is all that we need from you. This will help us get a good sense of how many want the vaccine so we can plan a schedule. The TSA will have about 52,000 people eligible in the next round to be vaccinated. All personnel who work at the checkpoints are eligible. This includes TSO, LTSO, STSO, TSM, DAFSD, TSS-E, K-9 handler, ATLAS team, TSI, STSI, STI. Basically, the Screening and Regulatory workforces. FSD, DFSD, AFSD and Mission Support personnel are not eligible in the next round since our primary work location is not directly with the public. These positions will be eligible for the vaccine in a later round. Those who are eligible have been identified at TSA-HQ. In the near future you will receive an e-mail notifying you of your eligibility. Please respond to the e-mail and the requested information. You will then receive a phone call with the information relative to the date, time and location of where to report for your vaccine. Most of the first people to receive the vaccine will go to a VA hospital for the vaccination. The vaccine comes in two stages, and you will be given a certificate to show you received the vaccine and when to report for the second shot as it is a two-shot vaccine. You may go for the vaccine during your scheduled work day, so our Scheduling team will be involved to facilitate the vaccines while maintaining required staffing at the checkpoints. Again, more information is coming soon, but this is good news and comes at a good time since we are seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Lastly, I want to wish all of you and your families a Merry Christmas. I understand that this has been a very difficult year for all of us, and for some a sad year due to the pandemic and its impact on our lives, health and families. Many people have lost loved ones, jobs, or businesses. The winter solstice took place on Monday, December 21. That is the darkest day of the year, having the least amount of sunlight. Christmas comes this week, and brings with it hope for a brighter future. Days are now getting longer and brighter again, even if by a minute each day. There is now a vaccine for COVID-19, and people are receiving the vaccine. We will be receiving the vaccine for most of you soon. We have many people in our workforce who have survived COVID-19. The government didn’t shut down. While it is easy to get negative about the events of 2020, we still have much to be thankful for and this is a great time of year to take the time to reflect on, and appreciate, all that we have been blessed with along with the possibilities of the coming year.
Thank you all for our commitment to the TSA mission, and a special thank you to all of you who will be working on the holidays. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Bob Duffy
