Opinion ID: 178097
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Watkins’s Employment with TSA

Text: On September 2, 2002, Watkins began work as a TSA screener at the Fort Lauderdale Airport (“FLL”). The first year of Watkins’s employment was a probationary period. Because TSA was a new agency in the early stages of 1 We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Thomas v. Cooper Lighting, Inc., 506 F.3d 1361, 1363 (11th Cir. 2007). Summary judgment is appropriate when the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, presents no genuine issue of material fact. Id. 2 federalizing security at FLL, Watkins began training other screeners within a few days of being trained and certified himself. Watkins worked the first shift, from 4:00 am to 12:30 pm, at Checkpoint Echo. According to Watkins, he trained many of the employees who were later promoted to supervisory positions and he often performed the duties of supervisors. He also contends that there were no AfricanAmerican leads, supervisors or managers on the first shift at FLL. Watkins’s immediate supervisor was Cathy English, and his second-line supervisor was David Cassell, the acting Screening Manager at FLL. Cassell reported to Carmen Curro, the Concourse Manager, who reported to George Cruz, the Scheduling Operations Officer at FLL. Cruz’s supervisor was Bryant Chevalier, the Assistant Federal Security Director at FLL. Diane Barton was a TSA Human Resources Specialist. Barton was not in Watkins’s chain of command. Rather, as part of her duties, Barton processed all requests for personnel action, including hiring, disciplinary action and termination, and prepared other paperwork for management. According to Barton, Watkins never applied for a promotion while employed with TSA.