You asked to speak with a supervisor, but did a supervisor show up?

Gatekeeping - Exclusive Content of Gate Access

Gatekeeping

“Can I speak with a supervisor?” How many times have you asked that question during an issue? Probably at least once. When you ask for a supervisor at a store or restaurant, you can instantly notice the difference due to their attire. Their uniform is usually different than what the regular employees wear. I’m making this point because, at TSA, everyone, instead of management, wears the same uniform, making it difficult to verify if you’re speaking to a supervisor.

I noticed how problematic this situation was during my time with the administration. Officers would band together and act as supervisors when situations that were not threatening arose. This is due to the average passenger not knowing what to look for to tell the difference between ranks. In this blog post, you’ll learn what to look for and understand the ranks of the officer you’re communicating with.