Their size and operation may be dramatically different, but Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) both took home a big prize at the 2023 TSA Honorary Awards Ceremony.
In 2023, TSA officers screened about 18 million passengers a year at IAH and 809,000 travelers at ICT.
However, TSA proved size doesn’t matter when announcing IAH and ICT earned the Airports of the Year Award for their efficiency at the TSA checkpoint and dedication to enhance the work environment for employees.
CAT X-I Airport of the Year – George Bush Intercontinental Airport
For the third time in just five years, IAH claimed TSA’s CAT X-I (largest) Airport of the Year Award, which TSA IAH Federal Security Director Juan Sanchez said took a lot of hard work, action plans and a committed IAH team.
“Very proud,” is how Sanchez felt when learning the news. “It’s an honor to serve alongside the men and women of TSA at IAH. This is the highest of team awards, and it certainly takes the entire team. We could not achieve this accomplishment without the empowerment of our entire team in all departments.”
Despite facing the highest passenger and baggage volume in its history and not having the screening capabilities of its six-lane international checkpoint due to construction, TSA IAH in 2023 increased its operational efficiency and lowered overall passenger wait times.
“We knew we would be challenged with the loss of a six-lane checkpoint,” Sanchez noted. “We relied on the great partnerships we have with the Houston Airports System and United Airlines as well as other key stakeholders. With the purchase and donation of automated screening lanes, operating in a remote screening environment, we were able to gain significant efficiencies while improving our threat detection capabilities.”
He said equipment improvements not only made his team better, but continuous communication between TSA IAH and its partners was crucial.
“The employees were able to execute a very detailed and meticulous plan to ensure a successful mission accomplishment,” said Sanchez.
“Supplementing the Administrator’s Intent and its strategic priorities, we have instilled a whole of community approach,” Sanchez described. “I wanted to ensure we focused on improving the overall culture at IAH to ensure everyone was treated with dignity and respect. The traveling public expects us to treat them with dignity and respect, and I expect all employees at IAH to treat each other with the same, if not, higher level of respect. It is important to provide a workplace culture where everyone feels valued and appreciated.”
In 2023, TSA IAH also took a multilayered approach to threat detection, starting with the deployment of a threat detection supervisor and threat detection training kits for their team.
“We knew it was going to take an entire team, and to improve our threat detection capabilities, I wanted to ensure everyone chipped in,” said Sanchez. “I am extremely proud of the entire team and find myself lucky and fortunate to be serving alongside this great team.”
CAT II-IV Airport of the Year – Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
Security operations and employee communications were at such a high level at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport, TSA named ICT the CAT II-IV (mid-size to small) Airport of the Year.
Lead TSA Officer Andrea Boyer said, “It is exciting and a great honor to receive this recognition.”
“Here at ICT, we have awesome teams,” noted Boyer. “When you have everyone working together toward TSA’s mission, it makes you a strong, bounded unit. When passengers come through our airport and commend us for our professionalism and thank us for keeping them safe, it gives us a sense of pride. Coming to work, knowing the people you work with, makes it worth being there every day.”
In all of 2023, TSA ICT had no reports of passenger wait times over four minutes in the TSA PreCheck® lane and zero reports of wait times over nine minutes for standard passengers.
“At our airport, our supervisory and lead officers are given the opportunity to make decisions to better the operation and security checkpoints,” Assistant Federal Security Director (AFSD)-Screening Loren Rockey explained. “They are aware of the flight schedules and staffing and know when to open and close the different lanes. They know they do not have to ask permission to open and close lanes. They are considered part of our leadership team and are all confident enough to make those decisions.”
In 2023, the TSA team at ICT recognized the need to enhance operational communications; expand diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts; and support additional professional development opportunities.
“During fiscal year 2023, we decided to place an increased emphasis on ‘Commit to our People,’” said Federal Security Director Anthony Metcalf.
TSA ICT maintained and exceeded all short- and long-term recruiting, hiring and career promotional goals, which Human Resources Specialist Lamecia Rockey attributes to TSA Kansas’ proactive approach to hiring.
“We have developed a rapport with our local hiring field coordinator and recruitment strategy specialist who help ensure job announcements are open, candidates continuously move through the pipeline, and take a proactive advertising approach, especially at hard-to-fill airports,” Rockey said. “We developed a list of regional news and radio outlets; college, local and state job fairs; and local websites for job opportunities.”
In winning the prestigious award, AFSD Rockey summed it by saying, “If you have happy employees, they will show up for work and go above and beyond what is required.”
Here are what other TSA employees at ICT had to say about being named CAT II-IV Airport of the Year:
Supervisory TSA Officer Erin Crowley: Being awarded Airport of the Year makes me proud knowing I’m part of a great team. Our team here at ICT really focuses on security with a smile.
TSA Officer Donald Dockery: It's a completely supportive environment. There is nothing I can't bring to my management team, and I know I’ll receive full support. When you KNOW they have your back, it's not hard to perform at a high level and provide the best security and customer support.
TSA Officer Martin Graeff: For us to receive this award shows that leadership from top to bottom is focused on providing the best experience for our traveling public and striving every day to detect the threat. Our organization here has excellent communication at all levels.
TSA Manager Jayne Casteel: We have the most engaged workforce, a dedicated team who serves the public with passion, always maintaining our focus on the mission. Leadership takes cares of our people and guarantees their physical and mental well-being, ensuring their readiness to complete their jobs to the best of their ability.
Master Security Training Instructor Eduardo Celin: From screening to our administration, we strive to do our best and generate as much comradery as we can. What helps us stand out is the bonds we build here. Nothing beats knocking out tasks and having a good time with your team at the same time.
Human Resources Specialist Kyle Kerner: I’ve enjoyed working here for years and consider our leadership the best around. They say culture starts at the top and trickles down. I believe this award proves this to be true.
Supervisory Transportation Security Inspector Vicki Tucker: By winning the 2023 TSA CAT II-IV Airport of the Year, all employees can be assured that their continuous hard work and efforts do make a difference. Employees may not all get recognized individually, but now everyone has been recognized nationally.
Federal Security Director Executive Assistant Sam Fuller: It is an honor to win Airport of the Year. It shows the hard work our team put in providing exceptional performance in security and customer service has been noted. Thank you for your recognition.
Supervisory TSA Officer Saul Gallegos: It all starts with the kind of leadership we have here in Wichita. Supervisors, leads, and officers all work together for a common goal, and we do it with compassion. I’m glad the whole ICT team is being recognized for doing an excellent job protecting the traveling public with respect, dignity, and integrity.
By Don Wagner, TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs