From biometric identification to thermal security cameras, domestic aviation security has evolved rapidly for safer global airways. Yet due to an absence of security standards and rising privacy concerns, these innovations have yet to transcend U.S. borders. At a time of unprecedented global travel, how can the industry streamline security standards with foreign partners to pave the way for safer skies? Further, how can it continue to develop and integrate new technologies, while also striking an appropriate balance between security and privacy?"
Bio
Chris Calabrese
Christopher Calabrese is the legislative counsel for privacy-related issues in the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington Legislative Office (WLO). Prior to joining the WLO, Calabrese served as project counsel to the ACLU Technology & Liberty Project (TLP). As legislative counsel, Calabrese leads the office's advocacy efforts related to privacy and the responsible use of technology, developing proactive strategies on pending federal legislation and executive branch actions concerning data collection, surveillance, and identification systems.
Calabrese is currently working to battle data collection practices by the government and private sector that could lead to the creation of a surveillance society, fight invasive airline passenger screening practices, and protect workers against the damaging impact of a national electronic employment verification system. Key areas of concern range from the collection and storage of medical and financial information, Internet surfing habits, and travel patterns to government watch lists and state fusion centers.
Calabrese has testified before Congress and appeared in many media outlets, including CBS Evening News, Fox News and National Public Radio, discussing technology and privacy issues, and he has been quoted in a variety of publications including the New York Times, Washington Post and Associated Press.
John Halinski
John W. Halinski was named Assistant Administrator for the Office of Global Strategies (OGS) in April 2010, after serving as the Deputy Assistant Administrator since December 2008.
Halinski, who joined TSA in July 2004, has also served as the Europe Area Manager for OGS, responsible for all TSA operations and administrative activities in Europe. Previous to that, he was the Transportation Security Administration Representative for Italy and Africa, covering 38 countries.
Fawn Johnson
Fawn Johnson is a correspondent for National Journal, covering a range of issues including immigration, transportation and education. Johnson is a long-time student of Washington policymaking, previously reporting for Dow Jones Newswires and the Wall Street Journal where she covered financial regulation and telecommunications. She is an alumnus of CongressDaily, where she covered health care, labor, and immigration. Johnson first covered Congress at BNA Inc., where she covered labor, welfare, immigration, and asbestos liability. She has an M.A. from the Annenberg School for Communication at University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Bates College.
James Kitfield
James Kitfield has written on defense, national security and foreign policy issues from Washington, D.C. for over two decades. He is a three-time winner of the Gerald R. Ford Award for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense, most recently in 2009 for his first-hand reporting on the Afghan War and other ongoing conflicts and threats. He has twice won the Military Reporters and Editors Association award and the Medill School of Journalism's top prize for excellence in reporting for his first hand coverage of the war in Afghanistan (2009) and the surge in Iraq (2008). He is a recipient of the 2002 Stewart Alsop Media Excellence Award, sponsored by the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, for his coverage of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and follow-on events. He received the 2001 Peter R. Weitz Prize from the German Marshall Fund for excellence in reporting on European affairs, and the 2000 Edwin Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence given annually by the National Press Club to recognize excellence in reporting on diplomatic and foreign policy issues.
Kitfield is the author of the books War & Destiny (Potomac Books, 2005) and Prodigal Soldiers (Simon & Schuster, 1995). He appears frequently on radio and television, including as a regular guest on National Public Radio's Diane Rehm Show, on Public Broadcasting's Washington Week with Gwen Ifill, and on The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer. His articles have appeared in The National Interest, Omni, Newsday, Los Angeles Magazine, Army Times, Air Force Magazine, The Stars & Stripes, Off Duty, and other publications. Kitfield is a 1978 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of Journalism.
Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee is the U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th congressional district, serving since 1995. The district includes most of inner-city Houston. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Jim Marriott
Jim Marriott is Chief, Aviation Security Branch, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based in Montreal. In this capacity, he leads ICAO's aviation security and facilitation policy and standards development, the Universal Security Audit Programme, international capacity building and the Machine Readable Travel Documents programme.
During 25 years with Transport Canada, Jim occupied a variety of positions with increasing responsibility and complexity in the transportation security field. He played a major role in developing Canada's aviation, marine and surface transportation security programs since the immediate aftermath of the 1985 Air India bombing until his recent departure from Transport Canada.
John Mica
John L. Mica is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 7th congressional district, serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, starting January 3, 2011.
C. Stewart Verdery Jr.
C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., Founder and Partner at Monument Policy Group, LLC, has played a major role in a wide range of fields in Washington, D.C. for two decades. From high-ranking government positions to counseling private sector and political clients, Verdery has impacted issues in fields as diverse as technology and telecommunications, homeland security and law enforcement, international trade and commerce, and intellectual property. One of National Journal's "Political Insiders" Verdery is a sought-after public speaker and commentator on a wide range of public policy topics, including frequent appearances on networks such as Fox News and CNN. Monument is one of the fastest-growing government consulting firms in Washington with clients including leading trade associations, Fortune 100 corporations, small companies, and non-profits. Verdery's role in counseling clients ranges from managing all aspects of government relations to providing behind-the-scenes advice concerning market conditions and policy deliberations.
John Halinski, Assistant Administrator of Global Strategies for the Transportation Security Agency, discusses the tough balancing act of maintaining airport security while not stifling flight commerce.
