Security teams brief JFK, assuring
safety but warn of cyber threats
Multi-tiered programs, innovation AI, and human detection create a safety net
“There is no threat to JFK
or Airports” said TSA Asst.
Director for Compliance Jim
Fitzgerald at the Kaamco
Cargo meeting on January 30.
This reiterates the Chief Security’s
remarks made previously
at a security briefing to
JFK airport stakeholders.
The Port Authority Chief
Security Officer and colleagues
from the Port along
with top JFK agency management
from the PAPD, CBP, and
TSA briefed JFK stakeholders
about the level of threat from
terrorism following the tensions
with Iran and events in
Iraq.
In a General Managers
meeting on January 8, JFK
General Manager Charles
Everett hosted the various
agency security experts who
all contributed their views on
the threat of terrorism specifically
at JFK Airport and
Port facilities following the
killing of Iranian terrorist
General Soleimani last week.
The speakers spoke about
the current threat, likely retaliation,
the ways the Port is
evaluating threat, preparing
for threat and ways that the
community can take steps of
prevention against terrorism,
specifically cyber terrorism.
Port Chief Security Officer
John Bilich opened the briefing
by saying that “ The world
today is different that the one
we grew up in,” referring to
terrorism. JFK stakeholders
were referred to the January
4th bulletin from the Department
of Homeland Security’s
National Terrorism Advisory
System (NTAS) which stated,
“ We have no information indicating
a specific, credible
threat to the Homeland” , however
Port took proactive measures
to insure safety.
Talking about what the
threat picture looks like in
our area was Port Sr. Advisor
Security Roger Parrino. “Two
are two things to take away:
There is no credible threat to
the Homeland as per FBI and
DHS. The 2nd piece is that Cyber
terrorism is the issue you
need to be concerned with.”
Parrino gave his opinion that
the repercussions most like
direct action would take place
in Iraq, as just seen last nights
bombing. And he said, ” Of
more interest to us is Iran cyber
AIRPORT V 8 OICE, FEBRUARY 2020
attacks here in the U.S.
which is based on several activities
in the U.S. over the
years. DHS says cyber is the
biggest issue for everyone.”
To help prevent from this
type of intrusion the experts
suggest using strong complex
password, using a multi-factor
authentication for account access,
or at a minimum shutting
the system down after a
number of unauthorized attempt
log-in attempts. He cautioned
to encourage employee
awareness of legitimacy of
emails, and suggestive links.
All computer systems should
be up to date with security
patches and service provider
guidance on how to protect
networks.
Deputy Inspector Mark
Magrone from the JFK PAPD
reported that “ We have a robust
counter-terrorism posture,
that is our day-to-day,
that’s our world. We have a
large police department with
personnel all deeply rooted
in counter-terrorism posture
and prevention.” He said that
the PAPD went into a heightened
state of awareness bolstering
PAPD deployment,
stressing extreme vigilance,
and patrolling with heavy
weapons in high visibility, increasing
bag checks, adding
more officers on Airtrain, and
increasing vehicle checks. He
said, “Hundreds of vehicles
have been stopped at check
points into the airport. We
work extremely well with our
agency and federal partners
and stakeholders. Regular
meeting are held to share information
and insure safety of
everyone at the airport.”
The TSA is responsible for
transportation security at the
airport and beyond. JFK FSD
TSA John Bambury said that
he is JFK centric. “In regards
to the NTAS level of threat,
Imminent is the highest alert.
We have never had an Imminent
alert. But if so, the Port
and terminal operators have
their codified responsibilities
and actions to take.
TSA Compliance Officer
Jim Fitzgerald said, “ Our staff
is giving out this NTAS bulletin.
Do we all have to do anything
extra, and the answer
is NO. It is not an alert. There
is no increased level of threat,
We are at existing level and all
we are asking is for heightened
vigilance. And asking operators
to review the procedures.”
Fitzgerald said that if there
were a change “We would get
it out to the community right
away. “ He mentioned that
there is free training to the
community geared towards
to rank and file workers. TSA
has a program called First Observer,
an employee security
awareness program which is
great for the airport workers
which is available to the airport
community.
JFK Port Director Frank
Russo told the audience that it
this venue was an opportunity
for the CBP to be transparent
about the CBP operations.
“This has been along ongoing
threat with Iran and Hezbollah.
“We have been handling
them for quite a while but circumstances
,such as those recently,
brought us to a heightened
sense of awareness. We
make sure our analytical unit
is on target. We look at individuals
linked to previous terror
incidents, and run them
through or database. If any
individual travelling through
our borders has any indication
of a connection with any
previous incident they are chosen
from the arrivals area for
a secondary, meaning closer
personal interview by CBP
personnel.” They continue to
vet any individuals that might
pose a threat through the CBP
tactical terrorism response
team. Any helpful information
gained through these secondary
interviews is shared
with other federal agencies
to insure continued safety.
Russo said that additional
proactive measure include active
shooter drills through out
the terminals. He said with
determination, “ If there is an
active shooter incident in the
airport we are gong to be the
number one resource for stopping
that threat. Our officers
are trained to stop the threat
not just secure the facility, but
to stop the threat.
Methods used by individuals
to pierce airport and other
facilities security include:
presenting false documents
and information, testing and
probing of security, deliberate
challenges to security and
responses, taking pictures
of persons or facilities, materials
, acquisitions and storage,
that is unusual amounts
of cell phones, pagers as trigger
devices, weapons collection,
eliciting information
that is bey0nd level of mere
curiosity about events, infrastructure
and security practices,
recruiting individuals
with financial support, unusual
prolonged interest of facilities
through surveillance
and acquisition of expertise.
JFK Security Director Kim
Dickie said one of the most important
obvious ways to keep
the airport secure is through
the identification card every
worker must wear when entering
secure areas of the airport.
Dickie said that recommended
that everyone should
be wearing their IDs visible
to all and if someone is in a
secure area without a visible
badge, they should be challenged.
She said it is important
to remember, “ If you see
something, say something”,
and use the phone number on
the back of the security badge.
Bilich shared a security
fact with the audience. He
said, “28% of the Port budget
goes to security. “There is a
tremendous, investment and
rightfully so. We will always
now have this heightened
sense of vigilance and it is an
expectation that all our partners
and the general public is
vigilant. But there are times of
vigilance and times of heightened
vigilance. I would say
that this is one of those times
now with the current tensions
between Iran and U.S.” Bilich
repeated that all measures
taken by all are proactive tactics.
“Nothing specifically is
going on.”
He concluded by saying If
there in one take-away, please
go and interface with your IT
people because the nature of
cyber attack is disruption and
there could be tremendous
business disruption if you are
vulnerable to this kind of situation”
PANYNJ & JFK Airport security leadership, (L-R) Port Sr. Advisor Security Roger Parrino, JFK FSD John Bambury,
JFK PAPD Dep. Inspector Mark Magrone, Port Chief Security John Bilich, Port Director of Security Michael
DeGidio.