Cargo Tracker recently had the opportunity to sit down with Douglas Smith, Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In his role, Assistant Secretary Smith advises the Secretary on the impact of the Department's policies, regulations, and processes on 29 million private sector companies, universities, and not-for-profit institutions and enhances strategic communications in order to help the public and private sectors to jointly meet their shared responsibility for homeland security.

TSA Emergency Amendments

Air cargo security, always a critical issue, has come on the front-burner ever since the 29 October 2010 incidents involving printer cartridges bound for the United States. In the wake of several TSA emergency amendments, the importance of government-industry partnership has come to the fore. “We are working tirelessly to ensure that we provide solutions that are practical and sensitive to the global marketplace,” said Smith. “We reject the notion that we have to choose between security and global commerce. We can absolutely achieve a win-win scenario.”

Air Cargo Security Working Group

In the days following 29 October incident, the Department of Homeland Security held a conference call with CEOs of major airlines and set up the Air Cargo Security Working Group, consisting of both US and international firms. This group is in turn composed of four government-industry sub-groups:

• Information
• Technology & Capacity Building
• Global Cargo Programs
• Global Mail

Information on the activities of these groups can be found on the DHS website.

“The purpose of these groups is to work together towards long-term sustainable solutions,” adds Smith. “The ultimate goal is to not disrupt supply chain activity.” Indeed, these working groups are designed to diminish the need for last-minute emergency amendments by anticipating and coming up with solutions for tomorrow’s problems. But Smith can’t promise EA’s will disappear: “we have a very committed enemy out there, and we need to recognize that.”

E-freight and Secure Freight

Key to managing security intelligently is the advance provision of electronic information. “The more data, the better,” reflects Smith. “E-freight is a great solution that has the potential to be a global, fast, and nimble approach to getting shipment information to government agencies early. If you collect the data and provide it early, you’ll go the top of the security queue.”

The Secure Freight program, which aims to promote global air cargo supply chain security standards in order to facilitate safe, secure and efficient operations, is well-aligned to DHS thinking. “Global supply chain security is a shared responsibility,” stated Smith. “We will follow the progress of the Secure Freight pilots closely and work with IATA to determine the best path forward. Both of us recognize the need for a global implementation standard.”

Industry Collaboration

Attendance at the World Cargo Symposium offered DHS the opportunity to cement the partnership with the industry and recognize the role of IATA. “Our involvement with IATA has been phenomenal,” commented Smith. “Since the Christmas Day underwear bomber incident, our respective leadership teams have been attached at the hip, and we are committed to this ongoing collaborative approach. That’s why I’m here in Istanbul and have used the opportunity to meet with representatives from across the air cargo supply chain.”

Assistant Secretary Smith was a featured participant at the Cargo Executive Summit, where he spoke to supply chain leaders about the DHS security agenda.