TSA Publishes STSAC Appointment Notice – 7-8-21

Today the Transportation Security Administration published a request for applicants notice in the Federal Register (86 FR 36148) for “Appointment to the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee”. According to the notice summary:

“STSAC's mission is to provide advice, consultation, and recommendations to the TSA Administrator on improving surface transportation security matters, including developing, refining, and implementing policies, programs, initiatives, rulemakings, and security directives pertaining to surface transportation security, while adhering to sensitive security guidelines.”

STSAC members represent each mode of surface transportation, including:

• Associations representing such modes of surface transportation,

• Labor organizations representing such modes of surface transportation,

• Groups representing the users of such modes of surface transportation, including asset manufacturers, as appropriate,

• Relevant law enforcement, first responders, and security experts, and

• Such other groups as the Administrator considers appropriate.

The STSAC web site provides more information on what the Committee does. While not specifically mentioned on the site, I suspect that a major topic of conversation at the next meeting (8-19-21) will be pipeline cybersecurity. Interestingly, that topic was not mentioned in the STSAC FY 2021 recommendations document, but ransomware attacks have a way of changing priorities.

According to the notice, TSA is specifically looking for five applicants “with specific expertise in the pipeline mode of surface transportation and cybersecurity across all surface transportation modes.”

Interested applicants may contact Judith Harroun-Lord, STSAC Designated Federal Officer, via email STSAC@tsa.dhs.gov. They need to provide:

• Complete professional resume.

• Statement of interest and reasons for application, including the membership category and how you represent a significant portion of that constituency, and also provide a brief explanation of how you can contribute to one or more TSA strategic initiative, based on your prior experience with TSA, or your review of current TSA strategic documents that can be found at www.tsa.gov/about/strategy.

• Home and work addresses, telephone number, and email address.