TSA honors outstanding employees, agency friends

The Transportation Security Administration yesterday honored outstanding screeners, as well as community members who have supported the federal agency’s mission.

TSA-Saipan named Nadine Deleon Guerrero as the Local Screener of the Year during an awards ceremony at Aqua Resort Club yesterday.

TSA said Deleon Guerrero “has made outstanding contributions that realize TSA’s mission and vision, and core values through acts of valor, teamwork, integrity, and achievements in the area of transportation security that are marked by selflessness and excellence.”

“This employee exhibits exemplary job performance in making outstanding contributions to the government and community,” the federal agency added.

TSA recognized Elizabeth Perez for serving the federal government for five years, and Claudia Leon Guerrero for supporting activities and programs that foster workforce diversity and equal employment opportunity.

The Leadership Awardees were Fausia Dela Cruz, Roy Ford, and Betty Kosam, who “have displayed outstanding service to TSA in the pursuit of the core values, integrity, innovation and teamwork, and achievement of outstanding results significant to transportation security.”

Assistant federal security director Viola Sablan, Meagan Villagomez, and Joseph Ocampo were acknowledged for their outstanding performance in customer service.

TSA also recognized Cyndi Yeh, Leslie Ware, and Ronald Benavente for their outstanding performance in administrative and technical support.

This is the first time that TSA conducted an awards ceremony for its employees. Similar recognition ceremonies are being held in other airports nationwide.

Sablan said the awards aim to recognize employees “whose performance has met or exceeds expectation level in the areas of leadership, customer service, administration and technical support and equal employment opportunity and diversity.”

Aside from the screeners, TSA gave Friendship Awards to government officials and businesses who have demonstrated support for TSA’s objectives.

Recipients of the Friendship Awards are Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, U.S. Office of Insular Affairs representative Jeff Schorr, Senate President Joaquin Adriano, Senate Vice President Diego Songao, House Speaker Benigno Fitial, Vice Speaker Tim Villagomez, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, Japan Consul Takeo Saito, Philippine Consul Wilfredo Maximo, and Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Vicky Benavente.

Also receiving the Friendship Awards were DFS Galleria, Pacific Oriental Inc., EFC Engineers and Architects, airlines, and travel agencies.

TSA also gave Partnership Awards to other government and business officials whose efforts have advanced TSA’s mission “to protect the [United States’] transportation systems and significantly enhance TSA’s ability to achieve its overarching goals.”

They are Echo Company Commander Franklin Babauta, Chief Prosecutor David Hutton, Department of Public Safety’s Bertha Tudela, former DPS Commissioner Edward Camacho, Customs director Jay Santos, Commonwealth Ports Authority chair Joe Lifoifoi, CPA executive director Carlos Salas, CPA fire chief Stanley Torres, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the CNMI, and Continental Micronesia’s security director.