The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) held its first Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC) meeting Thursday.
The committee was created in the TSA Modernization Act of 2018. It is comprised of 14 nonvoting members, who served as advisers, and 37 voting members representing different modes of surface transportation. Its purpose is to provide recommendations on surface transportation security matters.
The committee will issue annual reports on activities, findings, and recommendations from the preceding year and reports on important issues.
“The STSAC formalizes the existing partnerships with industry leaders whose knowledge and expertise have played a vital role in our joint ongoing efforts to secure and safeguard the surface transportation system,” Patricia Cogswell, TSA acting deputy administrator, said. “TSA is proud to convene the STSAC as we seek to continue and build upon our progress. I think it is fitting that we are holding our inaugural meeting today, as we remember those who were affected by the commuter train terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India on July 11, 2006.”
Members include Jaime E. Becerra, a public transportation infrastructure security executive; Natalie Jones-Best, emergency preparedness, and risk manager for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; and Edward A. Bruce, director of intelligence at New Jersey Transit.