The Transportation Security Administration, TSA, has named George Bush Intercontinental Airport, IAH, as its 2020 Airport of the Year.   

“The TSA team in Houston consists of more than 1,100 employees from frontline TSA officers to inspectors, canine handlers, explosives experts, managers, program analysts and a host of others who work together every single day of the year to ensure that we protect the traveling public to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce,” said Juan Sanchez, TSA’s Federal Security Director for IAH. “Our team comprised of TSA officers and others demonstrate their commitment daily through their hard work, professionalism and commitment.” 

Sanchez also attributed Bush Airports’ success to the partnerships that TSA has with the Houston Airports, the Houston Police Department, airlines and more than 800 federal, state and local stakeholder groups that comprise the more than 20,000 people who work at the airport.  

“We are honored to be named TSA's 2020 Airport of the Year,” Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz said. “On behalf of the entire team at Bush Airport and the traveling public, I also congratulate the George Bush Intercontinental Airport TSA team for their invaluable commitment to safety and efficiency throughout this challenging year. We truly appreciate their unwavering dedication to their duties.”   

TSA selected Bush Airport as Airport of the Year in 2019, making 2020 the second consecutive year the airport received this recognition. The award recognizes the best of TSA with outstanding team achievements in key operations and mission support functions. The work will have resulted in measurable improvements, superior performance, notable innovation and significant operational improvements in support of TSA’s mission. Awardees demonstrate a clear commitment to improving workforce engagement and morale. 

On the heels of a successful year in 2019, Bush Airport continued its operational tempo in 2020, despite the COVID-19 environment. Airport leadership and staff, worked to preserve a safe and secure business environment for all airport employees and travelers. From the onset of fiscal year 2020, Bush Airport leadership communicated a deliberate framework aligned to the TSA Strategy and Administrator's Intent. This organizational blueprint was later amended to meet the needs of staff and traveling public in the COVID-19 operating environment. Consequently, the airport pursued multiple organizational themes that became deeply ensconced throughout 2020. Simply by focusing on our mission of protecting travelers and the nation's transportation system, Bush Airport remained poised for continued resilience.