"JIA security director stumps for new machines"

Thursday, August 1, 2002 

JIA security director stumps for new machines
By Christopher Calnan 
The Florida Times-Union


Jacksonville International Airport may get new security machines capable
of screening the screeners.

Paul Hackenberry, JIA's new federal security director, said he wants to
replace the machines used for screening carry-on baggage with newer
equipment that can test their operators. He's asking the Transportation
Security Administration for the six new machines and wants them
installed by the fall.

Although Hackenberry declined to describe how it's done, he said the new
machines are capable of measuring the effectiveness of security workers
operating the equipment. Such a feature keeps security workers on their
toes.

"I think that makes you more alert as an operator of the machine," he
said.

Hackenberry was unsure how much the new machines will cost, but said the
TSA would pay for them. TSA officials in Washington, D.C., couldn't
immediately provide the cost of the equipment. 

JIA's existing screening equipment is of various ages, Hackenberry said.

"It's not that it's not usable, it's just that it's not state of the
art," he said.

JIA has two screening machines at each of its three concourses. But the
airport plans to centralize its security checkpoints in 2004 with a $30
million reconfiguration of its terminal courtyard area. 

The TSA was formed and took control of airport security following the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Previously, security was done by private
contractors hired by airlines. 

JIA's security screeners are WorldWide Security Associates Inc.
employees managed by and under contract with the TSA. However, the
airport's security workers will eventually all be TSA employees.

The nation's 429 commercial airports are required to staff all security
checkpoints with federal workers by Nov. 19 and Hackenberry's job is to
manage that process and coordinate JIA security thereafter.

"I'm not here to have oversight, but to be a partner," he said during an
introduction to news reporters three weeks ago. "To be successful you
have to have a team approach."

Hackenberry said JIA will have more than 100 TSA employees after the
transition is complete.

Hackenberry, a former Secret Service agent, has said his first goal is
to hire good trainers who will teach security screeners properly. He
wants JIA security screeners to undergo three hours of training for
every 40 hours they work.

"You're only as good as you're trained to be," he said.

Hackenberry learned of JIA's 50 percent failure rate in a TSA
weapon-detection test while he was being trained in Washington last
month.

"They say that timing is everything," he said. "I was real glad I was in
training at the time and not here."

JIA security procedures were tightened following the reports of the TSA
tests and the recent discovery of a 9 mm gun in the attache case of man
trying to board a JIA flight proved that the improvements worked.
Hackenberry said in security matters, mistakes often times overshadow
successes.

"One whoops wipes out five attaboys," he said.

Hackenberry, a Pennsylvania native and former teacher, worked 28 years
for the Secret Service, starting in Philadelphia and eventually as a
member of protective details for presidents Ford and Carter.

After leaving the Secret Service, he worked at the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Ga., where he became acting
director in January.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID8

*****************************************