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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created as part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001. The TSA was originally organized in the U.S. Department of Transportation but was moved to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003.
The agency was created in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. Before its creation, security checkpoints were operated by private companies which had contracts with either:
- airline (in case the terminal is owned by an airline)
- terminal company (in case the terminal is private)
- airport operator (in case the terminal is operated by a port authority)
The main complaint about private checkpoints was the fact that it was said that staff were undertrained, they changed if the security company changed and did not have a police training or supervision. With the arrival of TSA private checkpoints, private checkpoints have not disappeared altogether. In some rare occasions private checkpoints are still in place but the companies are supervised by TSA.
The organization was charged, in the midst of much confusion over appropriate safety procedures, with developing policies to ensure the safety of U.S. air traffic and other forms of transportation. Airport security and the prevention of aircraft hijacking is an integral part of the TSA mission. Before December 1, 2003, the TSA oversaw Federal Air Marshal Service, but at that date the program was officially transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, as of fiscal year 2006, the Federal Air Marshal Program was reassigned to the TSA.
Mission and vision
TSA's mission and vision, according to its official U.S. Government web site: Mission: The Transportation Security Administration protects the Nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.
Vision: The Transportation Security Administration will continuously set the standard for excellence in transportation security through its people, processes, and technologies.
Leadership
TSA Org Chart- Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the TSA is Edmund "Kip" Hawley
- Deputy Administrator of the TSA is Robert Jamison
- Associate Administrator for Business Transformation & Culture is Gales Rossides
Assistant Administrator for:
- Inspections is Diana Holmes
- Intelligence & Analysis is W. Gaches
- Strategic Communications & Public Information is Yolanda Clark, Acting
- Security Operations is Mike Restovich
- Transportation Security Network Mgmt is Charlotte Bryan
- Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service is Dana A. Brown (as of 2006-03-03)
- Operational Process & Technology/CIO is Randy Null
- Human Capital/CHCO is L. Petersen
- Finance & Administration/CFO is David Nicholson
- Acquisition/CPO is Rick Gunderson, Acting
External links
Transportation in the United States | United States Department of Homeland Security
"Transportation Security Administration"