February 12, 2002

Mr. John Magaw,
Under Secretary of Transportation for Security
Transportation Security Administration, Room 10228
Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590

Dear Under Secretary Magaw,

I am writing with reference to provisions of the recently enacted Aviation and Transportation Security Act (Public Law No. 107-71) that describe security research and development (R&D) programs within the newly authorized Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Scientific Advisory Panel - Placement
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act amends the US Code to transfer aviation security R&D from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the TSA and calls for establishment of a Scientific Advisory Panel to provide oversight for security R&D programs. The Scientific Advisory Panel, as described, would function as a subcommittee of the existing FAA Research, Engineering and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC).

We recognize that this may present an awkward arrangement because the security mandate for the TSA includes security for all modes of transportation. However to the extent that the Scientific Advisory Panel provides oversight for aviation security R&D we strongly recommend that TSA develop a mechanism to integrate that review with programs under REDAC's jurisdiction. We believe that in order to provide a comprehensive security system architecture for aviation, issues related to aviation security R&D must be considered in the context of issues before other existing REDAC subcommittees (e.g., airports, air traffic services, aircraft safety). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has already set precedent for this arrangement with FAA in the joint management and oversight of aviation safety programs and such an arrangement could serve as a useful model for security program oversight as well.

Scientific Advisory Panel - Composition
The "General Requirements" section of the US Code (Sec. 40119) amended to transfer authority for research and development to the TSA reads as follows:

(a) General Requirements - -The Under Secretary for Transportation Security shall conduct research (including behavioral research) and development activities appropriate to develop, modify, test, and evaluate a system, procedure, facility, or device to protect passengers and property against acts of criminal violence and aircraft piracy

We believe that the massive expansion of the federal security workforce as well as the introduction of new technologies and innovative procedures will require a commensurate increase in attention to human behavior and human factors in security R&D. Well before 9/11, FAA had demonstrated its appreciation of behavioral science by forming the Human Factors Subcommittee of the REDAC. Further, the immediate past-chair of that Subcommittee, Dr. Deborah Boehm-Davis, Professor of Psychology at George Mason University, now Chairs the REDAC.

Because we recognize that the TSA is evolving quickly and is pressed to meet a variety of legislative deadlines, we are submitting a slate of nominees for the TSA Scientific Advisory Panel. Please find attached biographical material for the following behavioral scientists representing a range of expertise across air, surface and marine transportation in academic, industrial and government settings:

Like you, we are very interested in making sure that sound science is used to inform policy as the Transportation Security Administration takes on the critical mission of ensuring the nation's transportation system. The American Psychological Association stands ready as your conduit to our nation's expertise in such areas as human error, efficiency, safety, automation, signal detection and vigilance, perception, cognition, and decision making, performance under stress, personnel selection, training, and organizational behavior.

APA represents 155,000 members and affiliates and is the largest organization of psychologists in the world. Our mission is to advance psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare.

Read the letter to Under Secretary James Loy (3/03)

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