Federal Air Marshal (AFSD-LE)

Summary

The primary purpose of this Federal Air Marshal (FAM), Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement (AFSD-LE) position is to establish and maintain liaison with various law enforcement authorities on behalf of TSA, and coordinates activities with these entities within the transportation security domain in their area of responsibility. The AFSD-LE receives direction and guidance from the FSD but reports to the LE/FAMS field office SAC for personnel and law enforcement matters.

Duties

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The position is located at Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) in Sioux Falls, SD and reports to the Minneapolis Field Office, in the Field Operations Division (FOD), Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), Law Enforcement (LE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The LE promotes public confidence in our Nation's civil transportation systems through effective risk-based strategic deployment of Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) and other law enforcement resources in both air-and land-based mission assignments aboard U.S. air carriers, and in airports and other transportation modes within the Nation's general transportation systems. As a non-supervisory Federal Air Marshal Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement (AFSD-LE), the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Serves as TSA's principal law enforcement official within the area of responsibility, providing advice and assistance to the FSD, management officials and airport staff. Assists the airport FSD, when required, by serving as lead official for special/unique airport security programs and events.
• Serves as the TSA law enforcement representative within the local law enforcement community. Partners with law enforcement officials from other Federal agencies (e.g., FBI, DEA, Secret Service, CBP) and state and local agencies to address significant issues, share intelligence, and ensure the security of the airport. Provides support and assistance to law enforcement related taskforce groups and committees. Establishes and maintains liaison with other federal, state, and local law enforcement at all levels as well as stakeholders in private industry within their area of responsibility (AOR). Uses liaison role to ensure sharing of critical intelligence information, cooperation in conducting investigations, obtaining support for security initiatives, and maintaining a proactive law enforcement program to ensure the security of the transportation domain and the traveling public.
• Independently leads a variety of threat assessment activities to include: vulnerability/threat assessments for Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), and joint vulnerability.
• Supports dignitary arrivals and visits.
• Facilitates a variety of investigations in partnership with other law enforcement agencies having airport jurisdiction to include potential or actual violations of law. Investigations in which the AFSD-LE will become involved are generally those involving joint jurisdiction with other law enforcement agencies that affect the security of the airport or represent violations of law at the airport.
• Additionally, the AFSD-LE responds to actual or potential security violations through participation in searches, seizures, and arrests. Investigative activities may involve gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing cases for U.S. Attorney, as needed. Notifies Transportation Security Operations Center (TSOC) regarding incidents to ensure appropriate information is shared. Most investigations are short-term and are worked in conjunction with local law enforcement or other Federal agencies with jurisdiction at the airport.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
2. You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI).
3. You must have reached the minimum age (21) at the time of application.
4. Selective Service registration is required.

Additional Conditions of Employment in Qualifications Section.

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.

Qualifications

To qualify for the AFSD-LE SV-J Pay Band you must meet the qualification requirements outlined below:

1. Be serving as a current, credentialed TSA LE/FAMS Federal Air Marshal; AND
2. To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-I or GS-13 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Communicating LE/FAMS goals and objectives to external partners or stakeholders; AND
• Experience with Federal, state or local agency programs or activities that impact or relate to TSA operations or similar security programs.

Conditions of Employment

MOBILITY AGREEMENT: Individuals selected for this position must sign a mobility agreement as a condition of employment.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: This position requires a Top-Secret Security Clearance. Selectees must undergo and successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation and credit check as a condition of placement/retention in the position. The background investigation will include a check of credit history and criminal record, interviews with prior employers, and contacts with references, co-workers, and personal associates, family members and friends. A candidate may be disqualified from selection or removed from employment as a Federal Air Marshal based on information obtained during this background investigation. The employee will also be subject to a 5-year periodic reinvestigation.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL SCREENING: Selectees will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing during employment.

PHYSICAL ABILITY: This position requires employees to engage in moderate to arduous physical exertion. Employees must meet and maintain medical requirements for law enforcement officers (including medical examinations and physical abilities assessments). Employees may be required to engage in physically strenuous and stressful activities during potentially dangerous duties that include but are not limited to, the use of defensive tactics.

TRAINING: This position requires employees to successfully complete all relevant training programs.

FIREARMS: Federal Air Marshals are required to carry a firearm and maintain firearms proficiency as part of conducting law enforcement activities. Federal Air Marshals may be required to use deadly force, if necessary.

LAUTENBERG NOTICE: Title 18 USC, Section 922 (g) (9), automatically disqualifies anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from being appointed to this position.

TRAVEL: Selectees will be required to travel constantly while on duty. Federal Air Marshals are required to travel at various times during the day and night, and this travel routinely requires overnight stays both domestically and internationally. Federal Air Marshals are often required to travel to areas or locations that may be dangerous or present health hazards.

DUTY LOCATION/TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENTS: Federal Air Marshals must be available for permanent or long-term temporary (e.g. 30-day, 90-day, 120-day, etc.) assignments in any U.S. or international location in which the Federal Air Marshal Service operates.

HOURS OF DUTY: Federal Air Marshals are subject to 24-hour on-call duty. The work day of a Federal Air Marshal is often longer than 8 hours and will include working overtime, extended hours, and/or an irregular schedule as assigned. Federal Air Marshals are subject to changing shifts and assignments based on the needs of the Federal Air Marshal Service. Flexible schedules are not available and candidates must agree to perform the duties and duty tours as assigned.

This position has secondary coverage under 5 USC 8336(c) for applicants covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and 5 USC 8412(d) for applicants covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Applicants covered by CSRS in a primary position under 5 USC 8336(c) must meet eligibility requirements for mandatory separation under 5 USC 8335(b), including coverage in a primary position, before transferring directly, without a break in service exceeding 3 days, to a secondary position. Applicants covered by FERS in a rigorous position under 5 USC 8412(d) must meet the eligibility requirements for mandatory separation under 5 USC 8425(b), including coverage in a rigorous position for at least 3 years, before transferring directly, without a break in service exceeding 3 days, to a secondary position.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

This position is covered by the Federal Law Enforcement Retirement System, and the employee is eligible for 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP).

A Fixed Relocation payment may be authorized up to $25,000.

Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: www.opm.gov/

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an OF-306, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence.

More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement.