Ed Kelly TSA Cargo Chief
Dies
 When
Edward J. Kelly, head of U.S. Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) cargo division, died at 65 years of age on Friday December
4, beyond grief and loss, is the sense that a strong and reasonable
voice engaged in a mostly thankless job of bridging understanding
and cooperation between U.S. lawmakers, bent on strict enforcement
of 100% cargo screening next year and an increasingly frustrated
air cargo industry, has been silenced.
Additionally there can only be some
thought, if anybody can step up at a critical time for U.S. and
world cargo that can work both sides of the fence in hammering out
agreements that will lead to the smooth implementation of mandated
screening due to take hold next August 10.
In a speech earlier this year before
USA Congress in Washington D.C., Ed may have laid the groundwork
for that kind of cooperation—it is a blueprint which speaks
of the man and his legacy to air cargo.
On March 18, Ed Kelly told Congress:
“I am confident that the industry
currently screening at least 50 percent of air cargo transported
on passenger aircraft on flights originating in the United States
will meet the 100% screening requirement by August 2010 for domestic
cargo through our Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP).
“The requirement in the 9/11
Act to screen 100% of inbound air cargo continues to present significant
challenges,” Mr. Kelly said.
“Although it is unlikely that
we can meet the ambitious timetable set by Congress, we are working
with our international partners to address the many challenges and
expect to continue to see significant improvements as we move forward.”
His comments apparently gained some
traction amongst at least a few U.S. lawmakers who went on the record
saying that while the mandated deadlines would remain—efforts
will advance toward working with the industry toward greater cooperation.
“Ed had worked tirelessly developing
programs to implement the 9/11 mandate for screening of air cargo
on passenger aircraft,” Airports Council International-North
America said.
Mr. Kelly came to head up the TSA
air cargo effort in 2006 after retirement from the air cargo business,
having served at Emery and later at UPS.
Kelly was last seen on these shores
a month ago at the Air Cargo Americas conference where he spoke
on a Cargo Screening Programs panel held in an ice-cold meeting
room.
One can only ponder what appears to
be the tragedy of a guy taken from us so suddenly who, after retirement,
we learned, sailed his boat from San Francisco to the U.S. east
coast and otherwise appeared strong and vital.
Someone who spent a good deal of time
with Ed Kelly is air cargo industry icon Jack Boisen, who led Continental
Airlines Cargo until his retirement last year.
Jack and Ed worked closely in forging
a path to better cooperation between the air cargo industry and
the TSA.
“Ed's death was a jolt. I had
followed the notice of his initial illness and subsequent
progress reports with concern, but also with a confidence he would
pull through.
“I have become too accustomed
to the progress of medical science.
“Ed came to the TSA during a
period of great need, for the Transportation Security Administration
and more important, for the air cargo industry.
“He was the first to assume
his responsible role with a sound understanding of air cargo or
as we said, "he could spell freight".
“Ed also was able to recruit
quality professionals into his group.
“I have had much dialogue wth
Ed over the last four years, including our recent joint panel discussion
in Miami, which included Brandon Fried.
“Ed traveled quite a bit to
attend global air cargo conferences, where he agressively pushed
the TSA policies and programs.
"Aggressive" is a good descriptive
word for Ed. He didn't have a lot of sympathy for those who resisted
TSA programs. There was the legendary meeting at Pentagon City with
a few cargo types, where he threw a box cutter across the table,
with a less than subtle explanation that this could be 'the security
program'.
“Some others may also throw
in "tough", but that probably depends on the subject.
“Ed was also a good listener,
engaging in a number of our ideas, including harmonization and recognition
of excellent programs in European sectors.
“He participated in a number
of collaborative initiatives and "pilot programs" with
most sectors of air cargo.
“I will personally miss Ed as
the man and whom I believe was a friend.
“Ed was also fun, he enjoyed
a good story and shared quite a few of his own.
“Our prayers are with Ann and
his family.”
“Ed was one of the good guys,”
said Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association.
“He embodied the wisdom, judgment
and dedication of what most of us expect from a public servant when
grappling with crucial issues affecting the security of our country.
“In addition to the Certified
Cargo Screening Program, Ed's legacy at TSA will include the many
qualified people he recruited from the air cargo industry.
“I am confident that his team
will continue to carry the torch immediately.
“Ed had a big digital clock
outside his office counting down the days and hours towards the
August 2010 100% screening deadline and I will bet it has not stopped.”
“We will miss him.”
The writer believes Ed Kelly was a
professional and a clear thinker. Something we need badly in air
cargo.
He is going to be hard to replace.
Our condolences to his wife and children
and grandchildren.
Geoffrey
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