The Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC) recently met to set priorities for the year.
The priorities include measuring security effectiveness in surface transportation, improving cybersecurity information sharing, and mitigating insider threats.
Transportation Security Administration Administrator David Pekoske gave the opening remarks.
“The U.S. surface transportation system is a complex, interconnected network made up of mass transit systems, passenger and freight railroads, over-the-road bus operators, motor carrier operators, pipelines, and maritime facilities,” Pekoske said. “Since I began at TSA, I have stressed the need to improve security and safeguard our entire transportation system, and this committee’s work is critical to us achieving better security together.”
STSAC Chairman Thomas Farmer spoke about the formation of four subcommittees that align with the priorities. The subcommittees are cybersecurity, insider threat, security risk and intelligence, and emergency management and resiliency.
Farmer proposed immediate actions to support security enhancements.
Enhancements include implementing practices to expand and enhanced sharing of classified intelligence with security officials in each of the surface modes of transportation and establishing an early notification network for the timely sharing of information on cyber threats, incidents, and security concerns.
The STSAC was established in April under the Transportation Security Administration Modernization Act of 2018.