Employee Stories

Officer Perez photo

What people are saying about TSA - May 2022

June 15, 2022

Sacramento, California

A passenger in a TSA PreCheck® line at Sacramento International Airport observed this interaction between a large family and TSA Officer Marcus Perez and made the following comment:

“There…

SBA Officer photo

Santa Barbara TSA officers witness accident, stopped to help

June 15, 2022

California’s Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) TSA Officer Michael Abayon was relaxing in the passenger seat, watching a video on his phone when he heard TSA Officer Max Pineda Echeverria shout from behind the…

Iditarod champion Buser photo

TSA Alaska officers make good use of off-duty time

June 14, 2022

During the winter in Nome, Alaska, the sun is only visible for a short amount of time — just over four hours during the winter solstice [December 21]. The sunlight affects everyone a bit differently, but generally when…

Handler Montgomery and Loki photo

TSA’s ‘top dog’ handler

June 13, 2022

Don’t we all want to be the “top dog?” Jessica Montgomery can proudly say she’s TSA’s top dog handler.

Montgomery, a new explosive detection canine handler from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport…

Safety TDC photo

Safety culture shift from reactive to proactive produces results

June 9, 2022

What does lowering the speaking volume on Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport’s (DTW) checkpoint have to do with reducing injuries?

To get the answer, lace up your comfortable walking shoes and follow…

Honor Flight photo

San Francisco International Airport Honor Flights back in action

June 3, 2022

It’s finally time to take off after a yearlong delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Without further ado, Honor Flights are in motion again at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

From left, One World Trade Center tower, Lady Liberty and the Manhattan skyline from the Upper New York Bay. (Photo by Wayne Carey)

Kudos Across America – In a New York minute

June 1, 2022

  LaGuardia Airport (LGA) – Queens, New York

Supervisory TSA Officer [Calvin] Holmes of the TSA stationed at LaGuardia Airport in New York provided outstanding instruction, direction and…

Adm Pekoske and UK group photo

UK transportation leader visits TSA headquarters

May 26, 2022

The U.S. and United Kingdom have a close security relationship, and Administrator David Pekoske took that partnership to the next level by hosting U.K. Secretary of State for Transport The Right Honourable Grant Shapps at…

Colorado Springs TSOs photo

Good things come in threes?

May 25, 2022

In one day at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Texas, three TSA officers (TSOs) at three different checkpoints caught three guns, all belonging to three different passengers. Each of the three officers hailed from different home…

K-9 Paco and handler photo

Who let the San Francisco canines out?

May 24, 2022

It’s training day in the Bay area. Fifteen canine teams from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies teamed up for a bomb threat detection training at an evacuated school. The

Hurricane exercise banner

Hurricane Exercise Alpha – Accountability of our people number one priority

May 24, 2022

Exercise Hurricane Alpha — or HURREX Alpha for short — kicked up Gulf of Mexico waters in mid-April, weeks ahead of the June 1 start of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.

HURREX Alpha wasn’t early. It was right on time, causing mock…

Mother and daughter at EWR photo

New Jersey TSA officer passes baton to daughter

May 20, 2022

Lead Transportation Security Administration Officer Lori Saimson started her TSA career nearly 20 years ago at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport. Who knew that for the last five years she would be…

Officer Potter photo

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month employee spotlight: Jesselle Potter

May 19, 2022

Pakiusap kunin ang lahatsaiyong mga bulsa.

Loosely translated, that’s “Please take everything out of your pockets” in Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines. It’s something you might overhear…

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (File photo)

Kudos Across America – Arlington, Virginia

May 18, 2022

I am writing to express my gratitude for exceptional customer service by one of your TSA agents [officers]. I am referring to [Ronald Reagan] Washington National Airport Lead TSA Officer Olivia Linzy. My…

ORF team photo

What people are saying about TSA - April 2022

May 18, 2022

Norfolk, Virginia

I wanted to say that I very much appreciated how well the team did their job! Bravo Zulu [Well done]!

Traveling as an amputee has its own set of issues, but your team allowed me to travel with…

Sam's case photo

What happens after the great catch?

May 18, 2022

What happens after the great catch? Part two: investigation, violations lead to financial consequences

Editor’s note: This limited series explores the compliance arm of Security Operations:…

Bus photo

Wheels on the bus go round and round with TSA’s help

May 17, 2022

Chances are you’ve heard the popular childhood song “The Wheels on the Bus [Go Round and Round].”

TSA plays a key role in keeping the wheels on our nation’s buses go round and round to protect school children…

Lead TSA Officer Ana Miranda-Fernandez enjoys a quick chat and photo with three U.S. Olympians who flew out of Washington Dulles International Airport. (Photo by Sena Park)

Team USA meets Team TSA at Dulles

May 16, 2022

Officers at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) had the opportunity to see hundreds of U.S. Olympians up close.

About 280 American athletes from the winter and summer Olympic and Paralympic games came through IAD after…

BWI banner photo

Kudos Across America – Baltimore

May 13, 2022

On April 27, I approached the TSA Checkpoint at BWI [Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall] airport. There was a very short wait to have your license, ID and boarding pass ready to present to the TSA officer.