Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group

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Robert S. Bray Q: What is your role in the Transportation Security Administration’s [TSA] objective to detect, deter and defeat hostile acts targeting U.S. air carriers, airports, passengers and crews? A: I became the TSA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Law Enforcement, director of the Federal Air Marshal Service [FAMS] in June 2008. I began my career with FAMS on May 5, 2003, as the assistant special agent in charge of the Mission Operations Center at the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. In November 2003, I was appointed the deputy assistant director for the Office of Training and Development and subsequently selected as the assistant director, Office of Security Services and Assessments in March 2006. My role as director of the FAMS is to direct the strategic deployment of federal air marshals onboard domestic and international flights as well as coordinate additional federal air marshal law enforcement duties in the transportation domain. As TSA’s assistant administrator, director of the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service [OLE/FAMS], I take great pride in supporting our workforce and its ability to effectively provide counterterrorism and investigative operations throughout the nation. The men and women of FAMS continually provide support to federal, state and local law enforcement organizations throughout the world, and are called upon to assist with incidents of national significance. The dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of our workforce cannot be overstated. As an assistant administrator of the TSA, I serve as a senior adviser to the assistant secretary and deputy administrator on matters affecting the strategic and operational direction of TSA in all areas of law enforcement and security operations, programs, policies, infrastructure and internal processes. I provide advice and direction on department and agency wide goals and priorities with other TSA senior leadership. I believe my most important role is providing the FAMS workforce with the support and leadership necessary to enable every member of our organization to perform their duties to the optimal level. Q: Can you provide an overview of some recent successes by TSA’s FAMS? A: Today’s FAMS is a highly trained, professional federal law enforcement organization charged with securing the nation’s civil aviation system and transportation domain from both criminal and terrorist acts. Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act [ATSA] and the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, TSA has broad responsibility to enhance security in all modes of transportation nationwide. Federal air marshals are part of a nationwide transportation security program that serves all modes of transportation. Sky marshals, now referred to as federal air marshals, have successfully completed missions onboard U.S. air carriers since the 1960s. Currently, federal air marshals operate as the last line of defense in TSA’s risk-based security approach. 4 | BCD 1.1 LEADERSHIP INSIGHT Assistant Administrator for Law Enforcement Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service Transportation Security Administration FAMS prides itself on being the sole law enforcement organization within the United States that is not only dedicated to the safety and security of the traveling public, but also able to deploy assets domestically and internationally at a moment’s notice. The extent of federal air marshal domestic capabilities was evident from our rapid response to natural disasters including Hurricanes Katrina and Ike. Additionally, our ability to deploy assets onboard aircraft internationally was proven when we effectively deployed assets in response to the liquid explosives plot in August 2006 and the December 25, 2009, failed improvised explosive device attack onboard NW Flight 253. Q: Can you elaborate on the training federal air marshals receive as far as investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behavior recognition, firearms proficiency, aircraft specific tactics, and close quarters selfdefense measures to protect the flying public? A: Federal air marshals receive approximately 16 weeks of intense training upon being hired. Federal air marshals attend a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center [FLETC] basic course, which is a hybrid of the FLETC Criminal Investigator Training Program and the FLETC Uniformed Police Training Program. Upon successful completion of the basic course, federal air marshals attend a second phase of training at the FAMS training center in Atlantic City. During this phase, federal air marshals receive advanced law enforcement training including behavior recognition, explosives training, interview techniques, defensive measures and tactics specific to the transportation domain. Our training also includes advanced firearms training required as a result of FAMS having the highest qualification standards within federal law enforcement. Upon completion of initial training, federal air marshals train regularly at local field offices and in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement partners. Our offices are equipped with modern technology and aircraft simulators, enabling our personnel to stay up-to-date on tactics and self-defense measures while working in the unique aircraft environment. This technology and training enables federal air marshals to respond to the ongoing threats posed by terrorists. Q: How do federal air marshals work with other law enforcement agencies to accomplish their mission? A: The Federal Air Marshal Service works in cooperation with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in various aspects of counterterrorism to successfully carry out our mission. OLE/FAMS partners with domestic and international agencies to share and discuss best practices in training, intelligence gathering and sharing, canine training, technology and threat assessments. Active participation and partnership with other law enforcement agencies has proven successful in thwarting criminal and terroristic behavior. Federal air marshals are embedded in multiple FBI joint terrorism task forces and are aligned with other federal law enforcement organizations, including Customs and <strong>Border</strong> Protection. www.BCD-kmi.com
Following the Madrid train bombing, TSA developed the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response [VIPR] program to allow TSA security and law enforcement assets to augment federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the transportation domain. VIPR teams provide a full range of law enforcement and security capabilities and work in cooperation with local authorities to provide an additional security presence during specific alert periods or special events. VIPR teams have been extremely successful in serving as deterrents to mitigate evolving threats. Since the beginning of the program, TSA VIPR teams have successfully completed more than 26,000 operations nationwide. FAMS understands the importance of having strong working relationships with international stakeholders to combat terrorism. To maintain open communication and best practices, FAMS hosted the 2012 International In-Flight Security Officer conference. The conference was attended by 23 international air marshals, representing nine countries. The focus of the conference was explosives, explosive effects and countermeasures. U.S. federal air marshal instructors served as subject matter experts who worked alongside transportation security specialist-explosives [TSS-E] to present best practices. Each participant shared positive sentiments at the conclusion of the conference. The collaboration and communication between Our Security Requires Leadership and Knowledge Security-related positions are expected to increase significantly. SUNY Empire State College offers leading-edge concentrations designed to maximize military training and work experience. Advance your career with a concentration in: • Emergency Management • Homeland Security • Fire Service Administration • Computer Crime and Security Management Speak to a military advisor today. Call 888-372-0873 Visit esc.edu/military attendees were powerful reminders of shared air marshal missions and goals throughout the world. TSA OLE/FAMS’ mission is successfully carried out by strategically positioned field offices throughout the nation. Each local field office deploys federal air marshals to work in multi-modal positions. Federal air marshals work with local law enforcement agencies to augment security resources in an effort to provide visible deterrence and detection capabilities in rail, maritime, pipeline and mass transit environments. Federal air marshals are deployed onboard U.S. air carriers bound for domestic and international destinations. Q: Can you describe some of the programs to locate and identify dangerous materials that may present a threat to transportation systems? A: FAMS currently runs TSA’s K9 training facility located at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. K9s trained in this program are deployed to state and local law enforcement organizations throughout the United States, in addition to providing TSA personnel throughout the transportation domain with an important tool to locate and identify dangerous materials. The TSA Canine Training and Evaluation Section within TSA, Office of Law Enforcement, FAMS, has expanded significantly over the www.BCD-kmi.com BCD 1.1 | 5
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Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group

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