August 27, 2025
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Innovation Task Force (ITF) recognized the need for a smarter, more efficient approach to airport staffing operations and set out to explore how modern technology could enhance these processes and optimize airport security measures across the nation.
In support of TSA’s identified need, the Homeland Security Innovation Hub (HSWERX), in partnership with the DHS Technology Transfer & Commercialization (T2C) Branch, helped TSA identify, evaluate, and enable a cutting-edge solution with industry partner IBM.
The initiative launched with the TSA Airport Optimization Collaboration Event hosted by HSWERX, in partnership with DHS T2C and TSA ITF. The event brought together industry leaders, academic researchers, national labs, and non-traditional experts to identify key challenges and develop forward-thinking solutions. This multi-sector collaboration helped TSA sharpen its requirements, validate operational needs, and spark interest among innovators ready to meet the challenge.
Following the event, TSA began envisioning a capability that would provide leadership with a comprehensive, real-time view of operations and enable secure access from personal devices. The ideal capability would also have predictive scheduling, customizable local rules, and alerts for potential inefficiencies and equipment issues.
Following the success of the Collaboration Event, HSWERX hosted the TSA Airport Optimization Assessment Event to bring TSA’s vision to life. An announcement outlining the envisioned capability and evaluation criteria was shared via the HSWERX website, social media channels, and SAM.gov to maximize visibility and reach a broad audience. Submitters then outlined their proposed solutions in a brief white paper. Following a competitive screening process, TSA selected a handful of innovators to engage in one-on-one discussions with the TSA ITF evaluation team.
Among the submitters, IBM emerged as a standout, offering a mature and scalable solution capable of delivering real-time operational insights and predictive analytics. Their platform demonstrated the potential to optimize staffing, improve decision-making, and reduce inefficiencies through intelligent data visualization and modeling. Through this Assessment Event, TSA recognized that IBM’s technical solution aligned directly with TSA’s operational needs.
Based on TSA’s decision, HSWERX initiated a Business-to-Business (B2B) agreement with IBM, which allowed IBM to work with TSA to configure the platform to meet TSA-specific requirements, workforce constraints, and a living model capable of adapting to dynamic airport conditions.
As part of Phase I of the program, IBM conducted a live demonstration and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) at Miami International Airport, marking a major milestone in the effort. The UAT was successful in verifying that IBM’s solution performed as intended. The demonstration also offered concrete feedback from users on the flexibility associated with scheduling, payroll, and other administrative tasks.
With close coordination from HSWERX and DHS T2C, the Miami demonstration showcased operational efficiencies in one of the nation's busiest transportation hubs and allowed for a seamless transition into Phase II of the project.
The TSA Airport Optimization effort continues to move steadily towards Phase II and ultimately towards deployment.
In preparation for the second round of UAT, TSA and IBM are finalizing test scripts and evaluating a range of personal smart devices to ensure compatibility and reliability in real-world environments. A key feature of this phase is the introduction of personal device capabilities, allowing TSA personnel to perform critical tasks securely using their personal mobile devices and desktop workstations.
The team remains focused on ensuring the solution meets operational goals and delivers meaningful improvements in efficiency and user experience for TSA personnel.
As this project moves closer to full implementation, Nicholas Kobilansky, TSA ITF Program Manager, reflected on the progress made:
“I want to express my deep appreciation to the entire team for the incredible work on this effort. The expected cost savings alone—just from streamlining scheduling transactions and eliminating data entry errors—are significant.
But beyond the financial impact, this is also about quality of life. Giving officers the ability to manage their schedules from home, without needing to be onsite, is a meaningful improvement.
This has been a long-standing need—something we've been talking about for nearly 20 years. And it's this team that made it happen. Truly, kudos to everyone involved. You’ve delivered something big.”
From early problem framing to real-world development, HSWERX played a vital role in facilitating each stage of TSA’s innovation journey. By fostering open dialogue with solution providers and maintaining close coordination with government stakeholders, HSWERX ensured that TSA had access to the best ideas and the right partners.
This initiative demonstrates the power of government and innovator collaboration and the unique value of the HSWERX ecosystem in delivering rapid, scalable solutions to the front lines of homeland security.
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