Transportation Security Administration Looks to ASQ for Certification Needs

August 30, 2004 - More than two years of meetings and communications with the Transportation Security Administration reached a turning point for ASQ recently when the TSA asked ASQ to work with the agency in improving its current certification process for security screeners and developing a certification process for various other positions. The breakthrough came in a July 12 meeting between ASQ and Rear Admiral David Stone, acting administrator of TSA. This was one of a series of meetings on TSA and Homeland Security matters.

Synopsis of ASQ Washington Meetings on Homeland Security

The following is a synopsis of meetings held on behalf of ASQ in Washington, DC, July 12-13, 2004. Representing ASQ: Greg Weiler, ASQ staff; Amy Kimball, Sellery Associates, Inc.; and Dick Sandretti, Sandretti Associates, Inc.

Monday, July 12:

Transportation Security Administration. The meeting with Rear Admiral David Stone, acting administrator, also included the TSA deputy administrator, chief of staff, chief systems support officer, director of strategic management and analysis, acting assistant administrator for aviation operations, acting chief technology officer, and assistant administrator for the office of workforce performance and training. Following presentations on an overview of ASQ, Greg Weiler outlined the ASQ certification proposal. All in attendance had the original ASQ certification proposal from 2002. Principal outcome of the meeting was a request by TSA for ASQ to work with TSA to validate the TSA certification and to move forward to develop other certifications for various job levels.

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. We explained to committee staff and chief counsel what had transpired in the previous meeting with Admiral Stone of the TSA, acquainting staff with ASQ’s position and its presence in Washington . They were to take information from our meeting with TSA back to the committee. We had previously met with the majority staff director for the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, chaired by Sen. George Voinovich, who also supported our position.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY). This meeting was held to inform the Senator’s staff of ASQ’s efforts with TSA. The Senator had issued a statement criticizing the TSA after receiving a report on testing of screeners that he had requested from the TSA Inspector General’s office. Sen. Schumer’s staff person was very supportive of our efforts, saying he would be pleased to inform the Senator of our actions and plans moving forward. He said that the Senator would be in a position to write a letter of support should we need it.

Tuesday, July 13:

Office of Audits, US Department of Homeland Security. Discussion with the assistant inspector general, office of audits, and staff related to the report the inspector general had issued at Sen. Schumer’s request, along with ASQ’s efforts. Discussion followed regarding other areas where certification might be of value. Specifically mentioned was the US Coast Guard.

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Railroad Subcommittee. Discussion with the committee’s senior majority counsel, majority counsel, and senior counsel for oversight and investigations related to ASQ’s efforts with TSA and the possibility of extending the certification into railroads. The upshot is that railroads are far more complex and that no plan is currently viable for screening, although it was agreed that further discussions would be beneficial.

House committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Aviation Subcommittee. This meeting with the subcommittee’s majority counsel was held to inform the subcommittee of ASQ’s actions and position, and the outcomes from the previous meetings with TSA and the Railroad Subcommittee. The majority counsel was appreciative of ASQ’s efforts and was supportive of the certification.

Press contact: John Ryan at jryan@asq.org