Two Cheers for TSA
For the past eight years, I have served as President of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the airport trade association. During that time we had (more than) our share of tussles...
View ArticleOne Cheer for Customs and Border
In an earlier post, I talked about how I have observed changes, mostly for the better, at TSA during the 8 years I ran the airport industry trade association Airports Council International – North...
View ArticleU.S. Lacking Competitive Customs, Immigration Policy
Consider these facts: By 2017, Asia’s middle class will be greater in number than Europe’s and North America’s. Combined. Within eight years, there will be 670 million middle class people in China,...
View ArticleOn Putin, Pot and Public Security in 2014
As 2014 begins, it is tempting to comment on trends and things one hopes will happen, or do not happen. A few things have occurred that have me thinking overtime on the latter. The Volgograd bombings...
View ArticleAt Sports Events, Some Security Tactics Drive Cynicism, Risk
It should be said at the top that I do not underestimate the difficulty and security challenges related to holding the Olympics in Sochi. The fact that they should never have been awarded to such a...
View ArticleWhat Works, What Doesn’t – Improving Aviation Security
Ronald Reagan once said that there are plenty of simple solutions, they are just not easy. While I never voted for him, I do think he was on to something. There are often problems that really vex us....
View ArticleRep. Jim Oberstar – Good Friend, Great American
A couple of Fridays ago, May 2 to be exact, I was scheduled to have a call with former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar. We’d been working together on some projects with National Strategies, LLC, a firm he had...
View ArticleThe Stupid Reporting on Security Threats
Recent reporting on aviation security has reached new levels of stupidity, threatening public confidence and understanding – and perhaps even the very security of the traveling public. What do I mean?...
View ArticleA Fee, a Tax and an Opportunity
TSA is implementing the increased security fee mandated by Congress. There is some controversy over the way it is being done and some debate about whether it is a fee (used to directly pay for services...
View ArticleMedia Ebola Hype Misses Important Information
This week, I read the two best pieces on Ebola yet written. One was in The Washington Post by Ruth Marcus and the other in The New York Times by Frank Bruni. The message in both articles: avert your...
View ArticleWords of Wisdom for Next TSA Administrator
In recent weeks, I have been asked by many people, from friends and family all the way to the Secretary of Homeland Security, what kind of person I think should be nominated to head the Transportation...
View ArticleThe Constitution is an Asset in Fighting Crime, Terrorism
One of the most interesting, revealing and important discussions I have ever had occurred in 1992 on a beach at the Four Seasons in Maui. I had been invited there as part of the Young Leaders Program...
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