DHS-Safeguarding America’s Transportation System

8/7/2019 DHS-Safeguarding Americas Transportation System

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Building aSecure NationSafeguarding Americas Transportation System

Transportation Security Administration

Strategic Plan - Executive Summary

August 2004


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The tragic events of 11 September 2001 dramaticallyunderscored the vulnerability of Americas borders andits transportation system to terrorism. In the wake of thosetragedies, the Congress gave the Transportation SecurityAdministration (TSA) a unique and historic opportunity tobecome a new kind of 21st-Century federal organization inthis area of crucial importance to every American and thepeople of the world. As an agency of the Department ofHomeland Security (DHS), TSA is committed to buildinga safe and secure homeland.

Our mission is to protect the nations transportation sys-tema complex system of systems comprised of aircraft,ships, and rail and motor vehicles; airports, seaports, andtransshipment facilities; roads, railways, bridges, and pipe-lines; and supporting infrastructuresfrom terrorist attackand criminal activity. We have made it our responsibilityto understand the magnitude of such pursuit, and maintaina heightened sense of urgency in all of our security opera-tions. Americans depend on us and will continue to do sointo the future.

Much of our initial efforts focused on meeting congressio-nally mandated aviation-security objectives. We have madesignificant progress and will continue to fulfill our obliga-tions in the aviation sector. However, we have expandedour efforts to address threats across all modes of transporta-tion and to provide world-class security and customer ser-vice to travelers and shippers. We have remained proactiveand vigilant in our provision of security throughout thetransportation sector, and continue to build upon a solidstrategic foundation that will position our Agency forcontinued success in the future.

As we work to meet the immediate needs of the trans-portation sector, we continue to develop and implementthe strategies that enable us to perform our daily activitieswhile ultimately preparing us for the future. Accordingly,we have prepared a five-year strategic plan focused on fourfundamental goals: (1) Domain Awareness, (2) Prevent andProtect, (3) Respond and Restore, and (4) OrganizationalEffectiveness.

Importantly, we have not built this plan in isolation.Rather, we were guided by the Presidents National Strategy

for Homeland Security and the Department of HomelandSecuritys strategic goals of preventing terrorist attackswithin the United States, reducing the nations vulnerabilityto terrorism, and minimizing damage and recovering fromterrorist attacks. By achieving these goals, not only will weensure the security and unfettered movement of all modesof transportation, but we will also build an organizationwith enduring excellence that will become a model forsimilar organizations around the world.

TSA is a new organization, one only beginning to create itshistory and traditions of security and service to the UnitedStates. We will fulfill our responsibility to the Americanpeople to safeguard their transportation system. Our suc-cesses today will be our legacy for Americas tomorrow.

David StoneAssistant Secretary


TSA Strategic Plan Executive Summary

Letter from the Assistant Secretary


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Building a Secure Nation

Safeguarding Americas Transportation SystemStrategic Plan - Executive Summary

August 2004

Contents

2 Mission... Vision... Values... Future

6 Threats and Challenges

8 Domain Awareness

10 Prevent and Protect

12 Respond and Restore

14 Organizational Effectiveness

16 The Way Ahead


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MissionVisionValuesGoals


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The horror of 11 September 2001 tragically revealedAmericas vulnerability to a new kind of threat to thehomeland, one quite unlike any encountered before. Anambiguous yet deadly adversary, the terrorist can pick thetime and place for his next attack, almost with impunity.The terrorist is the ultimate asymmetrical threat, capableof striking when and where we least expect, pitting hisstrengths against our weaknesses.

The U.S. transportation system is especially at risk toadversaries intent on doing us harm. A complex system of

systems, at any given moment the transportation systemis moving the people, raw materials, energy products,and finished goods that are the lifeblood of the UnitedStates and the engine of the global economy. Aircraft,ships, railroads, and motor vehicles; airports, seaports,and transshipment facilities; roads, railways, bridges, andpipelines; and supporting infrastructuresall are potentialtargets for the terrorist.

The attacks on America galvanized the nation into action.Recognizing the need to deter and defeat a broad spectrumof threats. Congress enacted the Aviation and TransportationSecurity Act on 19 November 2001, establishing theTransportation Security Administration (TSA) within theDepartment of Transportation. As the Presidents NationalStrategy for Homeland Security underscored, this Actfundamentally changed the way transportation securitywill be performed in the United States.

Our mission is clear: To protect the Nations transportation

system and to ensure freedom of movement for peopleand commerce.

On 1 March 2003, a year after TSA assumed aviation-screening responsibilities at Americas airports, theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) stood up. Thiswas the most significant transformation of the U.S. govern-ment in more than 50 years, a far-reaching realignmentof 22 government activities and agenciesincluding theTSAand 170,000 public servants into a single departmentwhose mission is nothing less than to guarantee the security

...on the Front Lines of Americas Security 3


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and sanctity of our homeland. Within this evolving anddynamic context, TSA is putting in place the leading-edgetechnologies, processes, and, most importantly, the highly

skilled and motivated people to carry out our mission andthat of our new Department.

Our vision is of a world-class organization that will con-tinuously set the standard for excellence in transportationsecurity through our people, processes, and technology.

To achieve our vision, we have identified core values that ourpeople hold true:

Integrity: We will ensure that our culture is one ofcustomer focus, courtesy, respect, open communication,

cooperation, and earnest dedication to meet ourindividual and Agency goals.

Innovation: We will be an organization that createsleading-edge solutions and breaks away from legacy,business-as-usual practices to ensure effective andefficient operations.

Teamwork: We will embrace our diversity and use ourcomplete teamHeadquarters and field staff, transpor-tation modes, and key partners and stakeholderstocarry out the tasks that lie ahead.

Looking ahead, our five-year strategic plan sets out specificgoals and objectives that must be fulfilled if we are to besuccessful. Our four strategic goals are:

Domain Awareness: To ensure that we gain and sustain

awareness of the full scope of threats to and vulner-abilities of all modes of transportation in our domainof responsibility.

Prevent and Protect: To prevent foreign and domesticterrorists and other individuals from causing harmto or disrupting the U.S. transportation system andits users.

Respond and Restore: To ensure that an agile incident-response capability is coordinated to restore freedom ofmovement swiftly and effectively.

Organizational Effectiveness: To operate as a world-class, performance-based organization that consistentlymeets performance objectives while practicing out-standing stewardship of our resources.

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These goals are founded in the PresidentsNational Strategy for Homeland Security andare directly linked to DHS strategic goals

Awareness, Prevention, Protection, Response, andOrganizational Excellence. By achieving thesegoals and objectives, the Transportation SecurityAdministration will enhance the security of allmodes of the U.S. transportation system. We willenforce the law to ensure safe and efficient passagefor people and commerce. And we will do so withthe ultimate regard for the publics needs andprivacy.


TSA Milestones17 February 2002:

TSA took over aviation security screening, a responsibility

that had been the airlines for more than 30 years.

19 November 2002:

TSA met the mandated deadline to deploy federal passenge

screeners at airports across the nation. Over 44,000 federal

screeners and 158 Federal Security Directors responsible fo

429 U.S. Airports were deployed.

31 December 2002:

TSA met the mandated deadline to screen every piece of

checked baggage for explosives.



Threats and ChallengesThe U.S. transportation system is a soft target foradversariesforeign governments, terrorist groups,and individualswho seek to attack America, its citizensand friends, and its interests at home and abroad. TheSeptember 2001 attacks proved that terrorists could suc-cessfully exploit or strike U.S. air, land, or sea transportationassets as a means of disrupting our economy and sowingfear and lack of confidence in government amongAmericans and our friends. Some adversaries will strive toblunt U.S. economic, political, and military influence over-seas by attacking American aviation and maritime equities

far from home. Others may target U.S. transportation assetsfor no other reason than to create horrific incidents. As thePresidents National Strategy for Homeland Security makesclear, the threat of terrorism is an inescapable reality of lifein the 21st Century. It is a permanent condition to whichAmerica and the world must adjust.

However, the threat to transportation is not restrictedsolely to those motivated by political or social concerns,the National Strategy for Homeland Security acknowledges.In addition to terrorism, TSA will also work to preventother criminal acts, regardless of motivation.

The challenge of protecting U.S. transportation securityinterests is compounded by the global nature of the systemWe are inextricably linked in a complex web of worldwidetransport and commerce. We cannot be safe at home ifwe can be attacked overseas. Indeed, as domestic security

measures reduce vulnerabilities in the United States, assetsoverseaspassengers, commerce, and infrastructureareincreasingly at risk. Although we know that attacks againstAmerican transportation interests overseas continue to beplanned, the most fundamental threat remains that ofterrorists and criminals against targets in the United States.



A continuing challenge to TSA is advancing transporta-tion security while minimizing costs, providing excellentcustomer service, and protecting civil liberties. Increasedaviation passenger traffic puts a growing strain on TSAresources as screeners are faced with professionally andpolitely moving anxious passengers and their baggagethrough the transportation system at a pace that avoidsdelays and inconvenience. While TSA will not jeopardizethe traveling publics security to save money, reduce pas-senger wait times, or any other resource consideration,we accommodate those expectations on our services and

meet this challenge through a variety of strategies andprograms. Research, development, deployment, and main-tenance of advanced technology not only help TSA stayahead of changes in the face of terrorism, but also enableless invasive procedures and increase passenger and baggagethroughput.

While continuing to address critical aviation-security needs,TSA is expanding its efforts to improve security across allmodes of transportation, mindful of the complex inter-

relationships and vulnerabilities within the U.S. transporta-tion system of systems (see Fig. 2 pg. 9). We will do sothrough a threat-based/risk-managed approach that con-tinuously assesses the nature and extent of the threat toindividual transportation modes, takes into account thegeographical and temporal aspects of the threat, andallocates our security resources to where the threat andthe potential for harm are greatest and most immediate. Indoing so, we will work closely with other governments andinternational organizations to move forward on securitymeasures in a multi-layered ring of defense that can start

far overseas.

The global, multi-modal and multi-nodal nature of thetransportation security threat environment points to theneed for TSA to take an integrated systems-managementapproach that brings together the intelligence, operations,regulatory, and policy resources to address the dauntingchallenges to homeland security. The four goals outlinedin our strategic plan provide the framework for making thedifficult decisions and tradeoffs to carry out our mission.


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Domain Awareness is the first step in protectingthe U.S. transportation system. It is imperativefor us to obtain as much intelligence and knowledge aspossible of the threats, vulnerabilities, capabilities, status,trends, unusual circumstances, and other conditions of the

transportation system and its environment. Know yourenemyand know yourself has always been the criticalcomponent of success in warAmerica is at war with globalterrorism, and our transportation system is under attack.

Working closely with DHS, other Federal agencies, and theprivate sector, we are taking the necessary steps to identify,understand, and anticipate developments throughout eachof the domainsair, land, and sea in which we operate.Our domain-awareness initiatives include several programs

for collecting, analyzing, sharing, and taking action on intel-ligence and information about threats to the U.S. transporta-tion system. TSA is making innovative use of leading-edgetechnologies and techniques to collect and manage infor-mation regarding potential threats to persons, cargo, and

commerce. And, our processes and procedures will effectivelydisseminate relevant and timely transportation security andintelligence information to the appropriate agencies.

One of TSAs challenges in this area is to ensure that terroristand other threat information gathered by numerous law-enforcement and other agencies is shared among the appropriatefederal, state, and local agencies as quickly, efficiently, andeffectively as possible. The technical challenges includeoutdated computer and information systems, poor interop-


Domain Awareness

We will ensure we gain and sustain awareness of the full

scope of threats to and vulnerabilities of all modes of

transportation in our domain of responsibility



erability, no protocols governing information exchange,and a lack of secure communications equipment.To meet these challenges, TSA is developing collaborativerelationships with other federal, state, and local agencies, aswell as industry stakeholders and foreign governments andorganizations, to delineate specific roles and responsibilitiesfor transportation security information. Direct linkage toDepartment of Homeland Security intelligence and securecommunications architectures will help ensure access toand sharing of threat information.

Finally, TSA will continue to operate a TransportationSecurity Operations Center (TSOC) to correlate, fuse, and

share real-time intelligence and operational informationacross all modes of transportation, working closely withappropriate federal, state, and local entities. The OperationsCenter will operate around the clock to monitor trans-portation security operations, implement and manageemergency-response capabilities, and coordinate effortswith other law-enforcement, intelligence, military, andresponse organizations, including the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, andthe Department of Defense in its homeland defense roles.

Manage Risk,cross-modallye.g., cargo, passengers

Establish partnerships

with federal agencies,state/local, and privatesector partners to setstandards and coordinateoperating roles

Perform risk managementthreat and vulnerabilityassessments

Enforce compliance

Figure 1. Transportation System of Systems

We will manage the overall risk

to the transportation system by

focusing our efforts and resources

on the highest source of risk.

TSA takes a threat-based, risk-managed approach to

securing the entire transportation system. We will

work to understand and assess the relative risk of

various elements of the transportation system, so

that these elements can be compared within and

across transportation modes. We can then manage

the overall risk to the transportation system by

focusing our efforts and our limited resources on

those elements representing the highest source of

risk. The measures used to mitigate the risk will be

scalable and flexible, so that they can be modified

either as specific threats are identified or in respons

to changes in the general Homeland Security Threat

level. TSAs risk management program consists of:

criticality assessments, threat scenario assessments

and vulnerability assessments.



Figure 2. TSA Concentric Rings of Security

Prevent and Protect

We will prevent foreign and domestic terrorists andother individuals from causing harm to or disrupting the

transportation system and its users.

Our system-of-systems approach to transportation security brings

together numerous programs, processes, and activities for effective and

efficient operations.

There is no silver bullet to transportation security, and we are focused on threats to all elements of the U.S. trans

portation system. We have put in place multiple rings of security that will close off terrorist opportunities to attack us

at home or overseas. This layered defensesharing of intelligence, tracking of threats, perimeter security, advanced

screening technologies, hardened cockpit doors, and moreenhances security by presenting the terrorist with a

series of obstacles to be cleared, all the while allowing the flow of people and commerce.


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The ability to travel and ship goods through our transpor-tation system without incident will be enhanced by TSAsmulti-layered prevention and protection system. Preventionof a terrorist attack and the associated protection of critical

infrastructure are the first and most critical line in ourring of defense. However, a quick response to protectassets after an incident occurs will be critical to a return tonormalcy.

TSA is leveraging its aviation-security experience and insightfrom industry experts to develop, implement, and enforcesecurity standards for passenger and cargo rail, transit, high-way, and maritime systems. Security measures for criticaltransportation infrastructure are being strengthened, andTSA is undertaking major investments to secure the movementof cargo and passengers in all modes of transportation.In addition to investments in critical technologies andsystems, we have significantly enhanced selection andtraining of passenger- and baggage-screening personnel.

As required by the Homeland Security PresidentialDirective-7 and reinforced by DHS, TSA will assumetransportation sector-specific responsibilities that willrequire it to coordinate protection activities for theentire Transportation Sector. As such, we have developeda Transportation Sector Specific Plan. This plan includes

projects, initiatives, activities, timeframes, milestones, andresource requirements that allow us to coordinate protec-tion activities. We are working with the U. S. Coast Guard,the Department of Transportations modal administrators,

and other stakeholders to expedite the flow of information,identify and prioritize sector assets, assess vulnerabilities,develop protective programs, measure progress, and leverageresearch and development initiatives.

Additionally, TSA will strengthen partnerships with federal,state and local government entities, as well as all modaloperators. Doing so will enable us to maximize our scarceresources, establish best practices, and reduce vulnerabilitiesto the transportation system. TSA will promote the achievementof its standards through grants, regulations, cooperativeagreements, and collaborative relationships with our partnersand stakeholders. Likewise, TSA will continue to work withforeign governments, international organizations, andoverseas industries to facilitate the adoption of globalsecurity standards.


Figure 5. Aircraft Rings of Security


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The reality of our mission means that we must constantlybe prepared for the unthinkable. Even with compre-hensive and effective preventative measures in place, the

threat of terrorism is reduced, not eliminated. Should theunthinkable again become reality, recovery from a terror-ist attack begins immediatelysometimes well before theincident concludes.

TSA is developing plans for the swift restoration of freedomof movement for all modes of transportation in the eventof an attackanywhereany time. Cooperation and coor-dination with other federal, state, and local entities isparticularly critical for our success in this area. TSA willprovide expertise to develop plans for incident managementand response, contingencies, and organizational continuity.

We will also work to measure the readiness, effectivenessand efficiency of existing response capabilities. Followingacts of terror, TSA will work to restore public confidence asquickly as possible.

TSA is developing a multidisciplinary crisis/incidentresponse team to provide on-scene liaison and coordinationwith the Transportation Security Operations Center. Thisteam will assist in crisis analysis and lessons learned reviewand remediation, and will also conduct after-action compli-ance and enforcement evaluations.


Respond and Restore

We will ensure that an agile incident-response

capability is coordinated to restore freedom of

movement swiftly and effectively.


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We are constantly leveraging advanced, leading-edge, off-the-shelf

security technologies and approaches to defeat threats to the nations

transportation systems.

Establishing security standards and implementing them with the most effective and efficient technologies and good

tactics are fundamental for homeland security. New data-collection technologies, biometrics, explosives-screening

systems, imaging tools, and high-tech communications are just a few of the critical weapons we employ in Americas

war on terrorism.



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We are establishing a culture of visionary leadershipthat adheres to world-class management principlesof customer-driven and performance-based excellence,continuous learning and improvement, innovation, fiscalresponsibility, and fact-based management. We are aligningour human capital policies to achieve a model workplaceand a high-performing, motivated and skilled workforcethat is committed to our mission, vision, goals and tasks.We will continue to strengthen and improve our trainingand certification programs to ensure that our employeeshave the knowledge and skills needed to excel with confi-dence. In addition, we will be innovative in enhancing ourservices and processes, embracing advanced technologies

and proven quality-management techniques. We willcontinuously measure our performance based on long-

term strategic and annual performance goals.

During its first two years of operation, TSA has becomeone of the most highly visible Federal agencies. We providefront-line security professionals in every airport in thenation and, selectively, in our maritime and land transpor-tation infrastructure. This special prominence will place ahigh premium on creating and demonstrating value forour customers, partners, and stakeholders and achievingour mission. To carry out our tasks, we embrace severalkey principles:


Organizational Effectiveness

We will operate as a world-class, performance-basedorganization that consistently meets performance

objectives while practicing outstanding stewardship

of our resources.


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Customer Focus: We listen to and learn from ourcustomers, stakeholders, partners, and other agenciesthroughout government and industry, and incorporatesuccessful practices into our operations. We will alwaysstrive to provide excellent customer service and pro-tect civil liberties.

Continuous Improvement: Americas enemies are alert,resourceful, and constantly gaming the transporttionsystem to find its weaknesses. We will continually seekways to stay ahead of their deadly game by improvingour domain awareness and multi-layered security net.

Model Workplace: Recognizing the important humandimension to our work, we have initiated a ModelWorkplace initiative and are engaging our people atall levels in its design. Cooperation and teamwork areencouraged at all levels, and special efforts are being

made to give employees cross training and opportunitiesfor advancement.

Stewardship of Taxpayers Dollar: TSA will also be amodel agency in the efficient use of its resources. Wewill use indicators, coupled with other operationsinformation to evaluate the effectiveness of our training

programs, thoroughness of screeners, and the impactof our public outreach.

Performance-Based Organization: TSA is committedto being a performance-based organization. We arecollecting customer satisfaction data as key performanceindicators, and, coupled with other operations informationwe will use that data to evaluate the effectiveness ofour training programs, thoroughness of screeners, andthe impact of our public outreach.


We are building and maintaining stakeholder relationships that foster

communication, collaboration, and effective implementation of security plans.

We are working closely with industry and government stakeholders to share appropriate threat information, conduct

risk assessments, set standards, develop regulations, and enforce compliance. We will continue to solicit input

from industry stakeholders when developing standards and regulations and during the rulemaking process. These

close and continuing collaborative relationships are absolutely critical to our success. TSA needs input from indus-

try and government stakeholders to help us better identify where security problems exist, what security measures

will work, and what measures wont work. Collaborative effort also means that the TSA will need the industrys

eyes and hands to help implement measures for improving transportation security.


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Akey element of the Department of Homeland Security,the Transportation Security Administration will achieveits mission to protect the nations transportation systems.Our vision is clear: we will continuously set the standard forexcellence in transportation security through our people,processes, and advanced technology. We embrace ourcore values of integrity, innovation, and teamwork. Andwe remain focused on our four fundamental goals: (1)

Domain Awareness, (2) Prevent and Protect, (3) Respondand Restore, and (4) Organizational Effectiveness.

Operating on the front lines of Americas security, we willensure the safe and unfettered movement of all modes oftransportation for the benefit of the nation and the world.


The Way Ahead...




Strategic Goals, Objectives, and Activities

2005 - 2009

Strategic Goals

Domain Awareness Prevent/ProtectRespond/

Restore

Organizational

Effectiveness

Analyze threats andvulnerabilitiesMake innovative use ofanalytical and detectiontechnologies to manageinformation regarding

potential threatsAssess, analyze anddisseminate intelligenceinformation

Coordinate withdifferent stakeholdersto develop securityplansSet standards andregulations and

enforce complianceImplementprotective andpreventive measuresto mitigate risksto transportationsystems

Develop plans withstakeholders forresponding toincidentsDevelop, maintainand execute capa-bilities to supportrapid and effectiveresponse and recoveryto any disruptionsto the transportationsystems

Implement afteraction activities

Become a leading edgequality performance-based organization

Maximize the efficientuse of human andmaterial resources

Create efficient servicesand process throughinnovation, new tech-nology and qualitymanagementBalance the needs ofworld-class security andcustomer service

Threat/Vulnerability

assessmentsRegistered TravelerTransportation WorkerIdentification Credential(TWIC)

Hardened cockpit

doorsFederal Flight DeckOfficer (FFDO)Standards forsecurity equipmentStandards forpassengers andbaggage operationsPresence at overseaslocations

Transportation

Security OperationsCenter (TSOC)

Federal Flight Deck

Officer (FFDO)

Transportation

Security Conditions

e-Government

PerformanceMeasurementInformation System(PMIS)Model WorkplaceCustomer SatisfactionIndexTSA Online LearningCenter

Presidents ManagementAgenda

Objectives

Sample

Activities


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DHS-Safeguarding America’s Transportation System

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