Team Washington places first in TSA National Olympics

Team Washington members left to right: Christian Innela, Krystal Garland and Michael Cheney

SEATTLE - Three security screening officers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Washington state earned gold medals at the agency's annual TSA National Olympics held last week at TSA headquarters in Springfield, Virginia.

The three-day competition tested TSA officers' (TSOs) knowledge of checkpoint and checked baggage standard operating procedures, bag searches, threat detection, X-ray image interpretation and pat-down procedures. There was also a "Jeopardy!"-style segment where TSOs were tested on general security policies and procedures.

Team Washington was among 18 three-member teams from across the country who competed. Supervisory TSO Krystal Garland and TSO Christian Innela who work at Bellingham International Airport and Lead TSO Mike Cheney who works at Spokane International Airport represented Washington state.

TSA Team Washington poses with its gold medals and trophy after taking first place in the 2024 TSA Olympics. They placed first among 18 teams from across the country. Left to right: TSO Christian Innela; Washington Federal Security Director Greg Hawko; Supervisory TSO Krystal Garland; Transportation Security Manager Keith Bayer and Lead TSO Michael Cheney.

"We are so proud of Team Washington! They brought an intense focus, their exceptional knowledge and passion to the competition," said TSA Federal Security Director for Washington Greg Hawko. "In preparation for the competition, we presented them with various training scenarios to help them understand what they would encounter during the TSA Olympics. The preparation paid off."

There are more than 50,000 TSOs nationwide who carry-out security screening for passengers and checked baggage at airports nationwide. The TSA Olympics is designed to showcase the expertise and dedication of the agency's frontline workforce while also highlighting key skills TSOs use every day including security and customer service excellence.

While teams from around the country entered, teams from 18 airports earned a trip to the finals at agency headquarters. Team Washington state claimed the gold medal while Team Nevada took home the silver and Oklahoma secured the bronze.

TSOs from across the country didn't just compete while at agency headquarters, they were able to meet and network with counterparts and the agency's senior leadership. That added to the learning experience and professional development opportunities for everyone involved.

"While I enjoyed meeting other TSOs, when the TSA Olympics were underway, it was time to compete. Our team had prepared, and it allowed us to maintain a calm demeanor. That played a big role in their success," said LTSO Cheney from GEG. "We can't thank our leadership enough for setting us to do well."

This is the fourth year of the TSA Olympics and the first time it has been held in agency headquarters. The competition was held to coincide with the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which served as a reminder of TSA's core mission to protect the nation's transportation system.