Hello [firstname],
FFDOA UPDATE
Stakeholder Meeting 12-7-2022
FFDOA was well represented at the latest stakeholder meeting. This meeting, held at the new TSA Headquarters in Springfield, VA., allowed stakeholders to not only meet with FFDO program leaders, but also TSA Administrator David Pekoske, Executive Assistant Administrator Tirrell Stevenson (FAMS), and Deputy Executive Assistant Administrator Brian Belcher (FAMS).
Also, because we met at the TSA Headquarter building, FFDO Stakeholders were able to meet the staff which supports the program, including the Watch Desk Officers, Regional Coordinators, Supervisors and Admin. These folks are dedicated to the program and work hard to support FFDOs, so we offer our appreciation and thanks for their efforts.
Because of the current environment of increased Unpredictable Screening Procedures (USPs) associated with the Known Crewmember Program (KCM), some time was spent with TSA leadership discussing (what we believe) is an unbalanced application of increased random crewmember screening in proportion to the violations.
Also, we discussed KCM discrepancies in relation to FFDO processing and received commitment from the FAMS leadership to more aggressively pursue airports which continually violate or misinterpret how FFDOs are treated at the KCM portals.
FFDOA is encouraged by the program’s willingness to look at alternate methods of formalizing the stakeholder relationship with the Agency. We believe that moving forward there are established mechanisms to allow stakeholders to submit formal recommendations to TSA and, consequently, TSA should have a metric in responding.
Other items which were discussed in some length:
- Budget shortfalls associated with operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) and the challenges moving forward if a budget is not adopted by Congress.
- FFDO training projections in FY23 as well as reinstatements of former FFDOs.
- Weapons refresh update. NOTE: YOU MUST COMPLETE THE WEAPONS REFRESH BY 30 APR 2024.
- The program has confirmed that they will once again start issuing practice ammunition (50 rounds) in January of 2023. If the supply of ammunition continues to stabilize, the program will raise to 100 rounds later in 2023. AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT START UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2023.
- The program briefed on progress on International Harmonization and some good leads on adding international destinations for FFDOs.
- The program will continue to hold open houses in the spring of 2023. We highly recommend attending these events if possible, to interact with program leadership directly.
Several initiatives are still working and mostly burdened by budget constraints:
- Moving initial training to the FAMS training center in Atlantic City, NJ.
- Building out and increasing throughput at the ATL RTP facility.
- Adding a facility on the west coast for RTP.
- Starting the approved “Senior FFDO” program which would give FFDOs who qualify advanced pistol training, low light, medical, behavioral and joint tactics training. NOTE: Senior FFDOs will be issued updated credentials, but there will be no change in the Senior FFDOs authority or jurisdiction.
Lastly, as President, I thank you all for your service and volunteerism! Please keep in mind the in 2023 the FFDO program will have it’s 20-year anniversary. In that time, FFDOs will have flown over 21 million missions providing the last line of defense for our nation’s skies.
This program embodies what is best in our national character and I am honored to serve this group as your President. I look forward to invigorating FFDOA in 2023 and incorporating new ideas and new talent.
SEMPER VIGILANS ALL!
Bill Cason
President
HELP WANTED! As many of you know at FFDOA we are all volunteers! We are looking for someone who has experience in IT / Web Design / Web Maintenance to monitor & update our website and be able to interact with our host on issues. If you are interested, let me know!!! Thanks! bcason@ffdoa.org
