Department of Homeland Security

Office of Inspector General 

Ability to Communicate with Federal 


Air Marshals While in Mission Status 


(Unclassified Summary)
 

OIG-11-19 December 2010 
Ofjice ofInspector General

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington. DC 20528

Homeland

DEC 2 8 2010 Security

Preface

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office ofInspector General (OIG) was established by

the Homeland Security Act of2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General

Act of1978. This is one of a series of audit, inspection, and special reports prepared as part of our

oversight responsibilities to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the department.

This report addresses the effectiveness ofthe Transportation Security Administration's

dissemination ofintelligence and situational and awareness information to Federal Air Marshals,

while in mission status, to include when they are in-flight. It is based on interviews with employees

and officials ofrelevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable

documents.

The recommendations herein have been developed to the best knowledge available to our office, and

have been discussed in draft with those responsible for implementation. We trust this report will

result in more effective, efficient, and economical operations. We express our appreciation to all of

those who contributed to the preparation ofthis report.

C~Q\\t-- Carlton 1. Mann

Assistant Inspector General for Inspections
OIG

Department ofHomeland Security

Office ofInspector General

Unclassified Summary

Federal Air Marshals provide coverage on U. S. commercial air carrier flights,

both domestic and international, to detect, deter, and defeat hostile acts that

target air carriers, airports, passengers, and flight crews.

We assessed the Federal Air Marshals ability to communicate while in

mission status. Our objectives were to determine whether: (1) the Federal Air

Marshal Service provides Federal Air Marshals with timely and accurate

intelligence and situational awareness information whey they are preparing for

or are in mission status, and (2) the Transportation Security Administration

(TSA) was maximizing its communication capabilities to ensure that Federal

Air Marshals who are in mission status can receive and send time-sensitive,

mission-related information through secure communication while in flight.

TSA's Office ofIntelligence (Or) reviews, synthesizes, and analyzes

transportation specific intelligence. or coordinates and shares information

with Department ofHomeland Security components, the intelligence and law

enforcement communities, other government agencies, and the transportation

industry. or also assists the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) by creating

products that provide a framework to prioritize security resources.

The FAMS Office ofAdministration and Technical Services is responsible for

the management ofthe Air to Ground Communications program. Through

this program, FAMS is pursuing communication capabilities for Federal Air

Marshals.

We made recommendations to enhance the Federal Air Marshals' ability to

receive intelligence and situational awareness information when they are

preparing for or are in mission status.

Ability to Communicate With Federal Air Marshals While In Mission Status

Page 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COPIES 

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