Creating a “culture of innovation” that stays ahead of threats to the nation’s transportation system and hastens quality decision-making is one of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) strategic priorities outlined in its latest strategy document.
The strategy, which provides a general outline of three priorities between now and 2026, lays the ground work for two follow-on documents that will firm up the agency’s plans in the coming years to better respond to fast changing threats. TSA Administrator David Pekoske says in the strategy that he will issue his “intent” that will establish “short and medium term objectives for the next three years that are aligned to TSA’s strategic priorities and goals.”
In addition to the strategy and Administrator’s Intent, the agency will create an implementation plan for its various initiatives.
Under the Accelerate Action priority, TSA says it aims to make decisions faster, field solution quicker, make it easier to partner and collaborate with stakeholders, and align the agency’s organizational structure for managing risk and optimizing its resourcing.
In 2026, which will mark the 25th anniversary of the agency, the vision is for more dynamic capabilities.
“TSA’s innovative approach to security outmatches the threat,” by 2026, says the strategy, which was published online on April 25. “Next generation techn9ology, enterprise risk management, intelligence, and vetting capabilities allow TSA to respond real-time to the threat. TSA’s proactive and well-informed communication channels with partners across the global transportation network continue to enhance transportation security.”
The 20-page document, which is heavy on photographs, also outlines two other strategic priorities, one is to Improve Security and Safeguard the Transportation System, and the other is Commit to Our People. Under the first priority, the agency wants to continue improving “intelligence-driven operations with information sharing,” modernize how it does transportation vetting, continue establishing global security standards and bolster partnerships for surface transportation systems.
The document points out that it attracting and retaining talent is one of the trends it faces put makes strengthening its capabilities here a priority.
Other key trends highlighted in the strategy include the persistent threat to transportation systems, the availability of networked technologies, cyber security concerns and impacts to physical infrastructure, demand by travelers for better experiences, and the continued growth in demand for new nodes of access and departure in the transportation system globally.