Industry Focus
Taking Stock of Security
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Oct 01, 2017
Throughout the course of a calendar
year, we take a look at
numerous security solutions,
events and, in our case, publications.
In this issue, we have a
specialty publication that focuses on government
security. Security in the public sector is
a big deal.
First and foremost, if the government
can’t protect itself, then we’re all in trouble.
The government, whether federal, state or
local, must have a means to protect those
things that belong to all of us. Security in
the government arena is complex. First of
all, there are so many assets, staff, computers
and secrets.
We all get a first-hand look at government
security operations each time we go to
the airport. Like it or not, that is government
security in action. I’ve noticed over the years,
that TSA staff has gotten a little more cordial,
as opposed to an affront attitude of entering
the airport. I guess it has been a matter
of getting used to each other.
An airport can be a crazy place. There
are, of course, those people who are always
late, and that means getting through a security
checkpoint is not only an inconvenience
for them, but people in general are an inconvenience.
Waiting in line is no fun, but security
is a necessity these days.
In May, TSA, Delta Airlines and JFKIAT,
LLC jointly launched new automated security
screening lanes in Terminal 4 at John
F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
This is state-of-the-art checkpoint technology
at one of the busiest airports in the
country. The automated screening lanes incorporate
technology that enhances security
effectiveness while decreasing the time travelers
spend in security screening.
TSA and Delta deployed the first six of 17
automated screening lanes to JFK Airport in
Terminals 2 and 4. Two lanes in Terminal 2
and another four lanes are in use in Terminal
4. When all of the lanes are installed in those
terminals, JFK will have three lanes in Terminal
2 and 14 lanes in Terminal 4.
JFK is the fifth airport in the country that
has the new automated screening lanes in use.
The other four airports are nearby Newark
Liberty International Airport with 17 lanes,
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
with 22 lanes, Chicago O’Hare International
Airport with five lanes and Los Angeles
International Airport with eight lanes.
“TSA continues to deploy state-of-theart
technologies to ensure that we continue
to focus on protecting passengers who travel
out of JFK International Airport,” said John
Bambury, TSA’s Federal Security Director at
the airport. “We look at this new equipment
as being able to provide enhanced security
while improving the customer experience for
travelers.”
Delta was the first airline to make the
investment of the security lanes earlier this
year. In fact, Delta’s Hussein Berry, who is
vice president of airport operations at JFK,
said it is a game changer and an innovative
solution that will enhance customers’ experience
at the airport.
“Our responsibility remains keeping passengers
safe while also moving through security
as efficiently as possible,” Bambury said.
TSA continues to collaborate with
vendors, airlines, airports, and across the
counter-terrorism community to roll out additional
automated checkpoint lanes to improve
the screening process as well as help
minimize wait times. TSA’s long-term goal
is to incorporate enhanced capabilities at
checkpoint lanes throughout the country.
I think TSA is getting it right. Technology
and forward thinking takes the place of
what we all know can be a confusing and
stressful airport experience.
This article originally appeared in the October 2017 issue of Security Today.
About the Author
Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.