TSA Law Enforcement - Transportation Security Administration

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The Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (LE/FAMS) is an innovative, risk- and intelligence-based federal law enforcement organization that proactively mitigates threats involving our nation's transportation system and provides uniquely skilled, multifaceted resources for national security priorities. Federal Air Marshals are deployed to assess, address and mitigate varying potential risks and threats to transportation and travelers.

 

• Federal Air Marshal Positions
• Federal Air Marshal Position Operational Duties
• Criminal Investigation Positions

As TSA's main law enforcement arm, the LE/FAMS is made up of highly trained, dedicated personnel who protect the nation's transportation system and provide law enforcement augmentation to transportation and national security priorities.

• FAM
• SFAM
• ASAC
• SAC

Federal Air Marshal (FAM)

Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) perform a critical role in securing the nation's transportation system as part of the TSA mission. In addition to in-flight security, Federal Air Marshals occupy other assignments to cover a variety of law enforcement-related functions, such as the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) Program.

Supervisory Federal Air Marshal (SFAM)

SFAMs are responsible for directing the work of subordinate Federal Air Marshals and perform supervisory duties including, opertational and administrative assignments.

Assistant Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge (ASAC)

ASACs serve as program managers and/or field managers responsible for developing and managing effective law enforcement/security programs; establishing and maintaining relationships with federal, state and local law enforcement officials and communicating their assigned office's goals and objectives.

Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge (SAC)

SACs serve as executives and/or senior managers responsible for providing senior-level leadership, overseeing the overall planning, direction and coordination or operations and law enforcement/security programs.

To protect the nation’s transportation infrastructure, FAMs serve in a variety of law enforcement capacities both in the air and on the ground. Below are a few examples of Ground Based Assignment (GBA) opportunities.  

• AFSD-LE
• JTTF
• Training
• VIPR
• HQ

Assistant Federal Security Director - Law Enforcement (AFSD-LE)

The Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement serves as TSA's primary liaison to the local area law enforcement community and works to address law enforcement issues, share intelligence, and enhance the security at our nation's airports.

Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is comprised of various state and federal agencies with the primary directive of investigating potential terrorist related activities and suspicious incidents. Federal Air Marshals serve as an important member of these task forces, assisting in their investigations.

Federal Air Marshal (FAM)

Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) support the recurrent and new hire training at TSA/Federal Air Marshal training facilities and local field offices. FAMs work closely with state, local, federal and foreign partners to update and share best training practices.

Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR)

Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams regularly participate in transportation security operations in all modes of transportation to include mass transit, rail and maritime. TSA deploys VIPR teams to supplement existing security resources, provide a deterrent presence and detection capabilities, and introduce an element of unpredictability to disrupt potential terrorist planning or operational activities.

Headquarters (HQ)

To support the mission of TSA and LE/FAMS, Federal Air Marshals hold assignments at various headquarters locations, to include liaison opportunities within DHS and with other federal law enforcement partners

Criminal Investigation  (1811)

• Promotes the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of TSA’s workforce, programs and resources through objective and independent criminal and administrative investigations. 
• Conducts both criminal and administrative investigations of TSA employees, entities, persons contracted by TSA, regulated parties and civilians. 
• Leads or performs work involving planning, conducting, or managing investigations related to alleged or suspected criminal violations of federal laws.
• Recognizes, develops and presents evidence to reconstruct events, sequences, time elements, relationships, responsibilities, legal liabilities and conflicts of interest.
• Conducts investigations that meet legal and procedural requirements.
• Provides advice and assistance both in and out of court to the U.S. Attorney’s Office during investigations and prosecutions.
• Implements knowledge of criminal investigative techniques, rules of criminal procedures, laws and precedent court decisions concerning the admissibility of evidence, constitutional rights, search and seizure and related issues in the conduct of investigations.

Roles include: Criminal Investigator, Supervisory Criminal Investigator

Eligibility

• U.S. citizen or national
• 21-36 years old (certain exceptions may apply to veterans over 36)
• Valid driver's license

Chris

Learn from one of TSA's first Federal Air Marshals, and how his career has evolved since his days in the field.

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