Air Marshal Boss Orders Sweeping Review
EmailThe new director of the Federal Air Marshal Service, Dana Brown, has ordered a sweeping review of the agency’s operational, safety and management issues. The service revealed the review one month after an ABC News investigation revealed serious problems that air marshals said had compromised security and safety for marshals and the flying public. A spokesman, Conan Bruce, said Brown is "aware of the issues" raised in the ABC News report which featured an active duty marshal, Spencer Pickard. Pickard went public to complain about travel and boarding procedures that he said compromised the anonymity of the flying air marshals. Pickard was "grounded" shortly after the broadcast. The spokesman said the review was already underway before the ABC News broadcast but that the issues raised by Pickard, and in a critical Congressional report, "will be given due diligence" by 14 working groups composed of working air marshals, supervisors and civilian employees. Among the issues raised by Pickard were requirements that air marshals identify themselves in front of passengers at security checkpoints and boarding gates. The spokesman said the first change was put in place earlier this week involving a schedule change to give air marshals more rest time between grueling flight days. Another change involved the appointment of the new spokesman, Conan Bruce. A previous spokesman said he had been ordered not to comment to ABC News by supervisors at the Department of Homeland Security.
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Why do I detect another “you’re doing a heckuva job Brownie” moment here with this new director and his new spokesman?
Posted by: frodaddy | June 22, 2006, 11:54 am 11:54 am
A less grueling schedule is a good thing, however, I remember from the previous report that anonymity is the key issue. If you display marshals names at the front desks of major hotel chains and require them to “announce” themselves to the general public at the flight’s check-in, you may as well hand them a big sign to hang on their back. Come on guys…. surely we can do better.
Posted by: dreek | June 22, 2006, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
every thing’s secret. after we ran off the actual profrssionals and replaced them with clowns chosen by idiots we can’t talk to you. now after the place implodes and we have to privatize the air marshals with renta cops we’ll mention that maybe. however all the money the appointees make on the side with endorsements, kick backs and so forth, the BMWs, the country houses, hookers, we can’t talk about that at all. it’s all legal but we can’t talk about it. you’re just being nosey; oh by the way you’ll notice your grandparents medicare has been cancelled as we speak. maybe you ought to run along and take care of that…………..
Posted by: jim | June 22, 2006, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
The “more time on the ground” is called an NMS day 9no mission scheduled) so congress thinks we are not flying those days. In reality we are called the night before or on the day of an NMS to fly missions. These are not shown to congress. What a bunch of hooey.
Can anyone in the Agency be honest?
Posted by: fedup | June 22, 2006, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
What do you think the “Q” stands for in QTEC (maker of our PDA’s)???…….Duhh….Quinn!!!
Posted by: dee | June 22, 2006, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
More rest time..?? Grueling flight days..?? Like, there’s waiting in ticket lines, checking luggage, body search lines and flight delays involved with the job. Give me a break..!! Big fat salary and a big fat comfee seat on the plane with room service. The flight marshals have a legitimate gripe involving the boarding ID problem. It should be kept secret until the agent is boarded and then ID made known to the flight attendants.
Posted by: Frank | June 22, 2006, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
THIS IS A FRAUD! Don’t be fooled! Quinn tried this gimmick a couple a years ago and called these “Office Days”. We were told beck then that we would be able to take a break from flying. In reality, we got calls the night before and were given schedules. Even worse, many guys showed up to the field office for their “Office Day”, and many times hours into the day, we would get our supervisors coming up to us and informing us that “you got a flight in 30 minutes, get your butt to the airport ASAP”. Then we would have to do a 12-14 hour day. In the mean time, the FAMS would send to Congress all these wonderful schedules showing all of these “office days” that the FAMs supposedly never flew on. Director Brown has now brought out the exact same scheme, but is giving it a totally different name of “Non-Mission Status”. Notice the new name is even more FAM friendly? I would like for other FAMs to state on this forum, how many times they have flown while supposedly being on “Non-Mission Status”. THIS IS YET ANOTHER FRAUD brought to you by the next generation of former Secret Service Agents.
Posted by: Las Vegas FAM | June 22, 2006, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
As a FAM I would like to know where these ” fewer flying hours” are. I fly 10 -12 hour days. As long as retired SS personel are at the helm our agency will continue to be a laughing stock. Management does not know what honest is and they do not care about flying FAMs. As for the “working groups” there are not many flying FAMs there. And if a complaint is brought up by an actual flying FAM his supervisor is notified. Then the retaliation begins.
Posted by: sickntiredof beingsickntired | June 22, 2006, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
While the allegations made by the FAMs is indeed correct, it leads to an even larger problem as yet not mentioned. The additional concerns are that ALL Law Enforcement Officers/Agents (LEO’s) are required to not only idendtify themselfs to TSA staff at the checkpoints, but that we are also required to identify ourselfs at lease 2 additional times. One again at the gate counter-again in fornt of any other travelers that may be in the area, and the second time as we are boarding the aircraft when we talk to the Captain and/or FAMS should there be FAMS on the flight.
All this badge flashing while we are “attempting” to maintain a covert status & control any prisoners that we may have in our custory. There are other ways of boarding LEO’s than marching us in front of the normal traveling public, making us stand out.
Posted by: Webb | June 22, 2006, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
“The spokesman said the review was already underway before the ABC News broadcast”
Oh really? I’m sure Brown was in charge of that “…review was already underway…”, while Quinn was still the Head Master.
Let’s be real. Brown has been in upper management for many years and it takes him 4 months to realize things need to be changed.
Wow that is an example of proactive leadership. Nipping the problems in the bud, hitting the deck running and listening to the guys in the field!!
Just remember, Brown has already played musical chairs with the top management, given them new titles and more money. In a previous statement he fronted the idea that he could take action or take NO ACTION on the “working group” recommendations.
Sorry to say, history shows the latter will be what happens.
Posted by: Don't you wish | June 22, 2006, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
One thing that continues to be ignored is the fact that flying so much (wheth in cushy first class seats or not) is going to ruin the health of the fittest person. Giving physicals to these guys once every other years is pretty pathetic. What to you do with the 50 year old FAM with bad vision and hearing from flying so much? You can talk about how much money they make, but I would like to see anyone fly that much and not have serious health issues.
Posted by: health issues | June 22, 2006, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
Why won’t the Federal Air Marshal Service own up to the fraud they committed regarding the last set of supervisor promotions at the Washington Field Office? AVUE–an HR company that was hired to screen and select the best candidates forwarded a list of names to the hiring manager for review last Fall. The hiring manager subsequently ignored the highly educated and qualified list of applicants and promoted less qualified applicants not on the highly qualified list, most of whom came from the Secret Service and did not possess college degrees as the ones in the highly qualified list did. Education was a major factor as most all of the applicants possessed commensurate work experience. In this particular case, cronyism and favoritism prevailed over those that were much more qualified.
Will somebody with influence, care or concern please let the DHS-OIG know about these blatent violations of OPM federal promotion/hiring regulations. At the very least, the government ethics office should investigate these managers as they have shown wanton disregard toward their responsibility to act in the best interest of the federal government in a fair and impartial manner.
Posted by: no integrity | June 22, 2006, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
Who is Brown trying to hoodwink? definetly not the actual fklying FAMs. the so called review boards are made up of the same luminaries that have caused all the stupid issues in the first palce. And those FAMS seating on those boards are hand picked “yes men” who are more interested in getting in bed managemnet than actually looking out for hteir fellow FAMS.
Posted by: wfam | June 22, 2006, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
The working FAMs as they put it, Are mostly Office FAMs. Those Working in training or operations, they seldom fly (except on special missions they pick) Our office sent one of the bosses favoites. His sum total of professional law eforcement experiance was working in and supervising a commissary in our federal prison system. He has flown less than 6 months total in his whole FAM life!!
Posted by: bob | June 22, 2006, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm
Can’t take a sick day without writing a memorandum, can’t plan on a vacation without finding someone to fly in your place, can’t take off to be with your child during surgery, can’t take off for a friend’s funeral, can’t make a human mistake without being crucified, welcome to the CHICAGO FAMS office.. a living nightmare.
Posted by: NUTS & BOLTS | June 22, 2006, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
I have already lost all faith in the ability of the government to bring some common sense to this agency.
I am leaving the government for a private sector job after a total of seventeen years invested towards a pension. I just cannot stand the corruption any longer. This agency and the SS cronies incompetance has me wanting to forget I was ever a G employee. This is shameful how the managers here have disrespected the memories of the victims of 9/11.
Posted by: Quinonez | June 22, 2006, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm
Attention FBI,,, Please investigate FAMS Director Dana Brown. Include his perjury, contract fraud, collusion, and malfeasance in the current investigation of the former FAMS Director Thomas Quinn. I look forward to seeing them both in Federal Prison in the months to come. Thank you.
Posted by: Chicago Federal Air Marshal | June 23, 2006, 12:30 am 12:30 am
Who is performing this so-called sweeping review?
Could it possibly be the 14 so-called FAM focus groups?
How many actual “flying FAMs” are in the focus groups?
The management continues to release information that is misleading to both Congress and the public.
They claim that “working air marshals” are in the 14 working groups. They cannot use the phrase “flying fam” because the so-called working air marshal could be someone “working” in training or operations. (therefore, not flying on a regular basis).
Since “flying fams” represent over 90% of the FAM service, it may be useful to get some input/representation from the people who actually fly missions on a routine basis.
Regarding the so-called schedule change. This could have been done years ago. It is a no-brainer. Getting in at midnight on your Friday and then having a 5 am report time on Monday is completely uncalled for.
The real story is that they left so-many loopholes in their plan (which doesn’t take effect for several months) that there is little to no chance it will be enforced.
It will go something like this;
Flying fam to superviser: “Hey I thought I wasn’t suppose to get in at 11:58pm on my Friday anymore.”
Superviser to flying fam: “Well thats coming down from headquarters. It must be a “critical” flight. There’s nothing I can do.”
Critical in fam manager talk means that it is a 9hour 50 min plus day on a “filler” flight based on no intelligence.
In normal human speak “critical” would mean a flight scheduled based on actual intelligence regarding terrorism.
NMS (Non mission status) this is a good example of how management has created new “terminology” to mislead Congress and the public.
You see, on our schedules, there is a section that calculates our total hours in the air. NMS days are calculated at zero.
If a member of Congress were to look at the total flight hours management could point out that number.
However, that number is inaccurate since flying fams are actually flying missions on “non-mission” status days.
The terminology was created for the sole purpose of misleading any outside entity(including Congress) the excessive hours the flying fams are being tasked.
That was managements answer to the fact that “flying fams” work excessively long hours
Last question. How many participants in the entire 14 working groups are affected by the new “schedule changes”?
I rest my case!
Posted by: flying target | June 23, 2006, 12:35 am 12:35 am
I spoke of the deception that FAM SS retired management is perpetrating through “terminology”
This cuts to the heart of what is currently transpiring right in the faces of the flying fams.
The biggest question should be,
who is going to take the place of all of the seasoned federal law enforcement officers who are leaving the FAM service. Where will the FAMs get “officers” to take their places?
Nobody from any other federal law enforcement agencies want to be flying fams. In FAM hub cities, flying FAMS are actually taking jobs with local police departments. Who are now informed and aware of the disarray of the FAM service.
So where, one might ask are the “officers” going to come from?
Why does Management continue to have a “if you don’t like it leave” attitude?
Since there are no “officers” willing to join the FAM service, the FAM management in conjunction with other TSA upper management have decided to create “officers” in name only. They are called TSO’s (transportation security officers)formerly known as baggage screeners.
Thats right, according to the TSA and the upper management of FAMs
Baggage screeners are now classified as “officers” (in their world)
(This is to cover up the fact the actual officers across the USA want nothing to do with the FAM program)
I am not in any way trying to demean the baggage screeners. Many good people who have had to deal with mismanagement as well. And I don’t fault the people who are actually out there doing their job.
….But they are not law enforcement officers and Congress needs to understand that changing a terminology (title)does not make someone qualified to stop a hijacking at 30,000 ft.
This is the most dangerous of the “terminology” changes yet.
That is upper managements plan. As seasoned/experienced law enforcement officers leave, replace with baggage screeners under the title TSO(transportation security officer) so that Congress doesn’t realize it is not a one for one swap.
They will probably change the title of Federal Air Marshal to TSO as well in order to make their plan more “seamless”
Hey, I wouldn’t put it past them!
This is the type of modus operundi that exists within the FAMs. Fix the problem by attaching a misleading title:
recap;;;
NMS= cover up excessive flight hours to show fams on paper as flying less
TSO= baggage screener renamed “officer” to replace law enforcement to cover up recruitment problems
“FAM” focus group= Attach the word “fam” to “focus group” to cover up that there are no “flying fams” participating.
Posted by: flying target | June 23, 2006, 2:47 am 2:47 am
We’ve been told by management in Chicago that the FAMS doesn’t follow Office of Personnel Management policies but they won’t tell us what policies they do follow. They don’t follow FMLA, HIPPA or EEO laws so what laws do they follow. They don’t serve the American public they just serve themselves. Incredible.
Posted by: Chicago FAM | June 23, 2006, 9:49 am 9:49 am
Hello Nuts and Bolts,
The Denver Office is no better than Chi town. A guys ruptures his back in the sim room and is being harassed as not really being hurt. (His career may be over.) Another points out illegal activity and has his gear taken because he must be crazy. (He was crazy to point out illegal activity to the thieves themselves.) Another has his FMLA cancelled to help stats. They even had a new supervisor order someone to work despite Dr.’s orders to stay home until he was able to see his surgeon again. (That guy told the supv. to go to hell and he just resigned immediately instead of complying with the insane order.) Denver bosses somehow make their own medical decisions without any medical training or even common sense.
Denver is no better than Chicago. Denver guys even went on TV and management acts as if nothing is wrong.
I am a flight attendant and see the guys from Denver often. They are always talking about trying to get new jobs and how they are just trying to survive the bosses/flight schedule. Hell, the stress of this office helped break up my marriage to a guy who really should be doing different work. He is a great guy, but things just did not work out and all the stressors of his job did not help anything. The malfeasance all around in his job is eating him up from the inside.
Good luck to you guys. I will continue to write and call my Congressman on your behalf. I hope they listen to all the flight attendants and pilots supporting you. Stay safe my friends. I love seeing you on my flights.
Posted by: Ex-Wife of a Fam | June 23, 2006, 10:19 am 10:19 am
All of you folks who claim there are no flying FAMs in the working group have no idea what you’re talking about. Are all of nothing more than a bunch of sheep? One person says it on an internet blog site and its has to be true??? How about this.. I’m a FAM from BOS, fly regular missions, and have sat in on these working groups. You all are a shame to agency — even more than the SS managers.
Posted by: BOSFAM | June 23, 2006, 11:27 am 11:27 am
Boston FAM,
There are exceptions to every rule. Even the Nazis had some nice people around. Just because your experience is OK, don’t try speaking for the hundreds putting up with the abuse. How many of your peers have been physically assaulted by management? Maybe Boston has relative calm compared to the rest of the country. I know Chicago is pretty messed up.
I am happy for you, but I do not see many like you in the hundreds of posts on the various blogs, blotters and email lists.
Posted by: Truth | June 23, 2006, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Wow, what eye opening comments. I am a retired Police Det. Lt. After 30 yrs as a LEO and 2 yrs into retirement getting bored. I had considered the idea of maybe trying to work as a FAM or even a TSO….but all of you above have changed my mind…….had enought upper management fools to deal with in the department I retired from. Becoming a FAM or TSO would be like going from the pan into the fire………might just be more interesting to be a door greeter at Walmart…..all I can offer to you active FAMs and TSOs is a prayer you will be safe…
Posted by: Ret. Det. Lt. | June 23, 2006, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
Hey BOSFAM-
I and a cool ATSAC looked at seven different groups. We looked at the people in the groups and noted which ones were “flying” FAMs. Guess how many were NOT in ops or training? cmon now, take a guess. How many out of seven.
Thats right – only one.
So sorry pal, all your rhetoric amounts to a hill of beans, because the FACTS state otherwise.
Few to no FLYING FAMs are representing us, which means that any “decisions” they come to will not effect them in the slightest. An ops guy doesnt care about our schedules, he doesnt care about boarding precedures, he doesnt care about dress codes or any damn thing except how it affects his cushy office gig and his chances of moving up.
And that is the long and short of it.
Posted by: law dawg | June 23, 2006, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
Mr. Retired Lt.,
Thanks for your service and the kind comments towards us. We will probably be looking for the same jobs soon.
You are lucky not to have wasted your time coming into the FAMS. This place still has limitless potential to be a fine organization, but we need a complete management overhaul. It will not be an easy job to fix the problems they have created.
We all thank you for any prayers you can offer!
Posted by: LA Fam | June 23, 2006, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
Law Dog has it correct Mr. Boston FAM. The working groups are a farce. There are still several FAMs in each office that will do ANYTHING and SELL OUT ANYONE to improve their career chances. They also happen to be some of the least qualified FAMs in the opinion of most.
I think Boston is probably a member of management.
Posted by: Cleveland FAM | June 24, 2006, 11:33 am 11:33 am
As if things aren’t bad enough….we now have about 2 million STOLEN ID’s so what good will no fly lists be? We Americans have no Identity anymore we have all been terrorized. How hard would it be to steal an airline pilot ID…and use an airplane like 9-11….HOMELAND SECURITY is broken at the top level. Illegals are running the show…and our government twittles their thumbs.
Posted by: Shar | June 25, 2006, 1:00 am 1:00 am
You whiners posting on this blotter are a disgrace to our FAM Service. I hope the public doesn’t believe this junk.
You people would eat your own just becuase they don’t agree with you.
Go back to your old jobs…PLEASE!
Posted by: Flying FAM | June 29, 2006, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
Flying FAM above sure is not!
He/she is certainly a member of the mismanagement of this agency. The public may not be listening to the hundreds of professional FAMs calling out for the corruption to stop – but OIG, OIA, OSC, DoL, and still…ICE OPR are ALL listening. The U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate are finally listening too. This is not whining, it is the slow wheels of justice finally catching up with some of the fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption.
P.S. Mr. So-Called Flying FAM – buy a dictionary.
Posted by: REAL Flying FAM | July 1, 2006, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Bring back Don Strange. He is the only one with the courage to fire all the SS scum and bring some integrity to this agency!
We miss you Mr. Strange!
Posted by: Atlanta FAM | July 2, 2006, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
We agree, Don Strange is a great choice to fix things.
I just hope they get their priorities straight.
Posted by: Undisclosed | July 5, 2006, 10:02 am 10:02 am
Bush has appointed all his egotiscal maniac buddies who are fleecing America with there high doller salaries & still get to keep their GOV pensions. No one has held these people accountable!They have never flown a mission & don’t want to & yet with all their self imposed knowledge they know what is best for us! I have flown rediculous missions on so called NMS office days just for their precious stats. Missions such as Oakland & back (Las Vegas) on completly full Southwest flights. Good call Mr. Brown a completly flight full flight on a budget carrier is just what the bad guys want! Recently Sat next to a Senator who struck up a conversation with me and as I was completly honest with his questions he acted appaulded at such negative accusations of our trust worthy management who have presenting a happy, rosey & content picture of the FAM service. This is the same management that claims that there has been only a 6% attrition rate over the last 4 years. Mr. Brown will you be my partner for 90 days!
Posted by: West Coast FAM | July 20, 2006, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm
These “working Groups” are FAMS that have rarely flown and were hand picked by local managements because of their “yes man” attitudes. They don’t accurately represent the “Flying FAMS”.
Posted by: FAM | July 22, 2006, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
I agree. The tactical working group is a complete joke as there is ONE FLYING FAM ABOARD. The rest are morons with very little knowledge of the job.
Congress needs to do something and it has to be more than sending a harshly worded letter. Please, do you think the crooks running the FAMS care about your mean letters? Hold them accountable, for once, for their lies and crimes.
Posted by: Chicago FAM | July 23, 2006, 12:02 am 12:02 am
I thought Leonard Nimoy was retired? What is he doing reprising his famous Spock role in a law enforcement capacity?
Posted by: Trekkie | August 25, 2006, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
You should be more careful – Is it Chicago or Dallas, “Bob”? Seems the FAMS treats you well, considering the neighborhood you live in. I’m guessing you were one of the dress code whiners? Let me guess – BP, right? Listen, seems like you are just a year or two from retirement, so here’s a suggestion: Get another job or quit your bitching.
FAMs do a damn good job and this writing a memo for a day off or not getting time off for a kid’s surgery is bunk. Spreading this garbage in a public forum is nothing but poison to the Service and those who support it. Those interested in making FAMS a better place to work take action in proper ways.
You and the others who think that you can get results by whining in a public forum are simply wrong. Do things the right way, make yourself useful, move up the food chain and influence decisions. Or simply move on.
Oh, next time use a fake email address when posting in a public forum.
Posted by: bob | Jun 22, 2006 10:17:40 PM
Can’t take a sick day without writing a memorandum, can’t plan on a vacation without finding someone to fly in your place, can’t take off to be with your child during surgery, can’t take off for a friend’s funeral, can’t make a human mistake without being crucified, welcome to the CHICAGO FAMS office.. a living nightmare.
Posted by: Bill Erxxx | September 13, 2006, 3:33 am 3:33 am
Bill is pretty sad. Hundreds of FAMs are begging for change and some integrity in this organization and his only solution is to become part of the problem. Get promoted and somehow influence decisions? C’mon. How does someone with integrity get promoted in an organization in love with butt kissing and scamming?
Figure it out before everyone quits Bill. Many more than you know have applications out everywhere. I also know many guys leaving the entire industry. Guys going back to school or going into real estate because they are so put off by the management failures of this organization.
The truth hurts. At least the truth is being told.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 15, 2006, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
I am a retired chief dep U. S. Marshal and have always felt that Air Marshals ought to subordinate to the Director U. S. Marshals, not a separate agency. Airlines need to understand that marshals are on aircraft to save lives not to interfere with their operations and that if passengers can trust an airlines that the pilot can fly the plane safely then passengers and crews must trust that the US Gov can certify their personnel, in spite of the fact that both may have unknown or unrecognized problems that may deterioate. Training properly usually does not destroy fear but embellish methods to overcome that fear. Marshals are there as a part of the crew and must follow within the law the crew leader using his expertise to comply.
Posted by: Krim M. Ballentine | September 29, 2007, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Yeah Krim, and the FBI wants us to be subordinate and the USSS wants us to be subordinate to them too. Thankfully, you are retired now and can keep your opinions to your writings online instead of harming a perfectly fine agency. It makes no sense to be subordinate to the US Marshals as the FAMS does NOTHING with court security or fugitive recovery. The US Marshals also does NOTHING with transportation security or anti-terrorism internationally. Your idea makes as much sense as the FAMS being in charge of the US Forest Service or vice versa.
Think about it.
Posted by: Joe Bud | January 19, 2008, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm