Employee Stories

TSA Officers Darrell Nadal, Edgard Olivencia and Freddie Velez’s situational awareness kept transportation security secure and safe for the traveling public. (Photo courtesy of Kimberly Carter)

TSA officer identifies wanted felon at checkpoint, leading to arrest

January 25, 2024

During a routine overnight shift at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, a wanted felon tried to pass unnoticed through a security checkpoint.

TSA Officer Edgard Olivencia was working at the Travel Document…

DTW TSO Keyona Espree assists a passenger at the TDC position.  (Photo courtesy of Team DTW)

Kudos Across America – Detroit

January 24, 2024

I was recently flying with my wife and our 29-year-old special needs son who has autism and intellectual/developmental disability.

When we were providing our IDs and boarding passes to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne…

The plaster coating ABQ officers found inside a cardboard box lined with lead pieces.  (Photo courtesy of TSA ABQ)

Passenger can’t fool TSA; officers crack lead/plaster case with tech and smarts

January 22, 2024

A passenger departing Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) thought his packing creativity would fool TSA, but he underestimated the precision of TSA’s screening technology and the skill and training of ABQ officers in resolving a checked bag…

Miami International Airport Supervisory TSA Officers Jermaine Harris and Javon Denson. (TSA Miami photo)

Miami supervisory TSA officers shine in handling medical emergency

January 19, 2024

The bustling atmosphere at Miami International Airport took an unexpected turn when a passenger fell and injured her head while having a seizure at the checkpoint. The incident in the front of the checkpoint led to…

PHX TSA Officer Erica Vinegar (Photo by Alejandra Villa)

Frantic mom separated from child; caring Phoenix TSA officer uses sleuthing skills, reunites family

January 16, 2024

An ordinary day took an extraordinary shift for a TSA officer at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

An American Airlines employee and a concerned passenger approached TSA Officer Erica Vinegar who…

Mateo meets the flight crew. (Photo by Lisa DelPrete)

Family’s year-long journey with TSA South Bend prepares autistic son to fly

January 11, 2024

23-year-old Mateo DelPrete hadn’t flown on an airplane since he was a baby. His parents, though, had big plans for a family trip to visit two of Mateo’s brothers in Texas.

It was a journey that couldn’t happen…

Nick, a Southeastern Guide Dog, works while his owner, Larry Newman, a passenger with visual impairments, gets a  pat down. (Photo by  Lillian Newman)

Sniffing encouraged during guide and service dog events in Florida

January 8, 2024

Wyatt Rhoden has been in the TSA National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program since 2010. He spent his first 12 years as an Explosives Detection Canine Handler and the last year and a half as the Canine Supervisor at Southwest Florida…

TSA canine teams searching vehicles outside the event and hotel spaces. (Photo courtesy of Chris Hartman)

TSA Supports POTUS Security at California Summit

January 5, 2024

The final stretch of a year-long, methodically orchestrated security plan came together with a spectacular bow as dignitaries boarded their flights and safely departed San Francisco, California.

Representatives from around the world…

BOS photo

Kudos Across America – Boston

January 2, 2024

I have to write and say thank you to all the wonderful TSA agents we have met in our travels. I just booked TSA Cares for our flight to Ohio. We are going to see grandparents; priceless!  

Executive Director for Traveler Engagement Jose Bonilla, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport TSO Idalis Navarros, Mindy Henderson, AUS LTSO Rebecca Baldwin and AUS FSD Gilbert Almaraz. (Photo by Ignacio Reyes)

Excellent customer service in Austin, Texas, indicative of nationwide survey

December 18, 2023

When Mindy Henderson has a good customer service experience, she goes straight to the top to say so.

Henderson, the editor-in-chief of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Quest Media and a disability rights advocate, is an…

Huntsville International Airport TSA Officer Kayla Lowery-Busick uses sign language to communicate with passenger John Frick from northern Virginia. (Photo by Autumn Lovill)

Alabama TSA officer brightens Deaf community’s travel experience

December 13, 2023

TSA Officer Kayla Lowery-Busick just celebrated her two-year anniversary with the agency, and she’s making a big impact at Alabama’s Huntsville International Airport (HSV), especially when it comes to welcoming deaf…

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport TSO Gilbert Zapanta extended his hand to SJC Human Resources Program Assistant John Paratore and Human Resources Specialist Steven Hampton (back right) when he arrived at San Francisco International Airport. (Photo courtesy of TSA SJC)

Injured California TSA officer’s extraordinary recovery, journey from South Korea

December 11, 2023

Just a few days into a South Korean vacation with his wife, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) TSA Officer Gilbert Zapanta suffered a severe head injury from a fall in his hotel bathroom.

The next two weeks were lost to…

Alliance Municipal Airport, Alliance Nebraska (Photo by Jacob Mills)

Kudos Across America – Alliance, Nebraska

December 6, 2023

Wonderful staff, very friendly.

Always accommodating and informative.

TSA is doing a great job [at Alliance Municipal Regional Airport], thanks!

I travel an hour to use this airport specifically and I’ve never been…

(Photo by Lisa Farbstein)

Mock terrorist attack prepares Virginia bus system for the worst

December 4, 2023

The simulated terrorist attack was escalating quickly!

From intruders in the county’s bus parking lot to suspicious backpacks on buses – vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs) blew up, killing and…

(Image courtesy Sean Shiplett)

The Windy City Canine Challenge

December 1, 2023

TSA explosives detection canine teams (EDC) from around the nation were put through their paces as they competed in the Windy City Canine Challenge in Chicago.  

TSA C-MANPADS Section Chief Rick Williams (left) teams with members of the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority to assess the threat of MANPADS. (Photo courtesy of Rick Williams)

Did you know? TSA on front lines to combat MANPADS

November 29, 2023

Surface-to-air missiles pose a serious threat to worldwide aviation, and what you may not know is TSA is on the front lines around the world battling the threat.

Over 500,000 Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) currently exist,…

Children and adults with autism toured San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport to practice screening for flights.  (Photo courtesy of TSA)

California TSA officers help passengers with autism prepare to fly

November 28, 2023

The job of TSA officers is not only to keep travelers safe by providing world-class security, but also to ensure the best passenger experience possible. That goes for passengers from all walks of life, including those…

The PSS officer provides real-time, in-person screening assistance for individuals from diverse population groups. (File photo)

Put TSA Passenger Support Specialists on your nice list before you travel

November 27, 2023

TSA Passenger Support Specialists (PSS) are like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. They are the shining light for many passengers as they make their way through security screening at the airport.

Like the reindeer with the glowing red nose…

Kids' Art Story

TSA through a child’s eyes

November 22, 2023

A group of young children expressed their appreciation of TSA through an array of crayon-colored sketches after taking a field trip to northern Indiana's South Bend International Airport (SBN).

The early…