As cargo czar at the Transportation Security Administration, Ed Kelly is keenly aware of the challenges associated with ushering in the stricter
screening levels set to take effect in August 2010.

The industry veteran, who traded retirement for a demanding job at TSA, says “the most unnerving concern” is the lack of awareness, particularly among shippers, of the impact of the regulations on their day-to-day activities. Says Kelly: “It is a constant challenge to figure out how we can
convey to industry that the August 2010 deadline will not waver. We are utilizing as many outlets as possible to try to get these companies
to understand the urgency of what is ahead of them, yet there is much more to be done.”

In Kelly’s view, TSA has embraced its mission with a positive attitude and industry has reacted quickly to emerging challenges. Kelly finds “a shared can-do mindset” and willingness to work hard to accomplish missions and goals.

The TSA’s general manager of air cargo transportation sector network management says an upbringing in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania by parents who stressed hard work and accountability had a distinct impact on his work. So did timing and a call to purpose after deep personal reflections about Sept. 11, 2001.

Kelly was sailing his boat to Florida when he got a call from a senior TSA official about openings with extensive air cargo experience an essential skill set. His first thought? Just say no.

But then Kelly considered his 37-year-old cousin, Tim Kelly, who died in the Twin Towers attack. “Tim was married with three kids, the youngest being only one week old. I realized it would be a privilege to share my institutional knowledge to help to secure the nation.” Kelly applied and the rest is history.

Today, Kelly’s main challenge is to ensure that industry meets the 100 percent screening levels for all cargo on passenger carriers. To get there, TSA must educate unregulated entities in the supply chain and bring together shippers, forwarders and carriers under a single program. Another challenge facing TSA is aligning U.S. requirements with global processes.

“We have made solid progress” but there is still much to do, Kelly says. The 100 percent level is much more challenging because it involves breaking apart palletized shipments to screen at the piece level.

In this vein, TSA is prodding shippers and forwarders to join its Certified Cargo Screening Program. There are now 488 certified cargo screening facilities including 361 indirect air carriers, 38 independent cargo screening facilities and 89 shippers.

What Kelly likes most about his job is to see and hear directly from the stakeholders “about the impact of our programs.” He also gets a kick from the challenge “of ensuring that we balance the needs of security without disrupting commerce.”

When he’s not talking up CCSP, Kelly can be found on his boat (he once sailed from San Francisco to the East Coast via the Panama
Canal) or with his family and grandchildren.

With 27 years of service at Emery Worldwide, a stint as a consultant for UPS Supply Chain Solutions and his role at TSA, Kelly has a rare
perspective on the airfreight business.

Twenty years ago, the concept of security was centered on theft, the loss of products and the risk of losing customers, he says. Then UPS, FedEx and DHL injected new dynamics with just in time, sensitive and predictable cargo shipments. And later came considerable consolidation in the industry.

After 9/11, air cargo security threats “elevated to explosives on passenger carriers and a potential stowaway on all cargo planes.” As a result, regulations concerning the transport of air cargo have become increasingly stringent and those in the industry must expend “significantly more resources and efforts” to be compliant with those measures, he says.

trish.williams@aircargoworld.com