The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently signed a memorandum with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), a professional organization representing individuals who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports, in support of the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI).
According to the memorandum, AAAE will make available across its computer-based training services for the latest virtual BLI training course the agencies developed.
More than 300 airports use AAAE’s services.
BLI trains aviation industry personnel to identify potential traffickers and human trafficking victims and report their suspicions to federal law enforcement. More than 200,000 personnel have been trained.
“AAAE and the airport community are committed to fighting human trafficking,” Kyle Herbig, AAAE vice president of customer solutions, said. “Partnering with DHS and DOT on the Blue Lightning Initiative will help standardize human trafficking awareness training and prevention for thousands of workers at hundreds of airports that rely on AAAE for compliance and supplemental education and further unite us in our efforts to protect vulnerable individuals.”
DOT and U.S. Customs and Border Protection is leading BLI and it is part of the DHS Blue Campaign. The campaign is a Center for Countering Human Trafficking member. The center counters sex trafficking and forced labor.