Federal air marshals in Pennsylvania work out of the Northeast Region, which includes the cities of Boston, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Pittsburgh.
In addition to their services as federal law enforcement officials in the nation’s skies, federal air marshals in Pennsylvania also serve in the Western District of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC).
The ATAC serves as a “conduit for information sharing about suspected terrorists” among all levels of government. The ATAC is also tasked with implementing a national anti-terrorist operational plan in the Western District of Pennsylvania, which requires an assessment of terrorist threats within the District and to define the direction and the scope of its mission. Further, the ATAC is charged with leading a coordinated response to any terrorist incidents that occur within the Western District of Pennsylvania and sharing intelligence and information.
In addition to the Federal Air Marshal Service, agencies within the ATAC include: the ATF, the United States Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, the DEA, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, as well as a number of state agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
Federal air marshals in Pennsylvania may work out of one of the state’s primary commercial airports:
- Williamsport Regional Airport
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
- University Park Airport (State College)
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Philadelphia International Airport
- Lehigh Valley International Airport
- Harrisburg International Airport
- Erie International Airport
Air Marshal Job Requirements in Pennsylvania
Federal air marshals in Pennsylvania must meet the requirements of this agency, which include being a United States citizen and being between the ages of 21 and 36.
Qualifying for Air Marshal Jobs at the FV-G Pay Band
Individuals qualifying at the FV-G pay band, which is the minimum level at which federal air marshals are hired, must possess:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university: OR
- At least three years of progressively responsible job experience (experience may be in professional, administrative, technical, investigative, etc. work); OR
- A combination of education and experience
Qualifying for Air Marshal Jobs at the FV-H Pay Band
Individuals qualifying at the FV-H pay band must meet the requirements of the FV-G band, along with at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-G level. Specialized experience must include experience in:
- Law enforcement
- Conducting criminal investigations
- Performing inspections evaluations to determine compliance with laws and regulations involving aviation
- Developing/implementing policies affecting aviation security
- Providing security risk, threat, or vulnerability assessment related to aviation security
Individuals qualifying at the FV-H level without the required experience may also qualify if they possess a doctoral degree or at least 3 academic years of graduate education in:
- Criminal justice
- Public administration
- Police science
- Law
- Aviation management
Training Requirements for Air Marshal Jobs in Pennsylvania
New federal air marshals must complete a 16 week course of training, which includes an initial training course of training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, followed by agency-specific training at the Federal Air Marshal training facility in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Training facilities at the Federal Air Marshal training facility include an air traffic control tower, an aircraft for on-board exercises, and a number of outdoor firing ranges and interactive training rooms.
Topics covered in FAM training include:
- Fitness and nutrition
- Defensive techniques
- Firearms
- Aircraft tactics
- Arrest techniques
- Behavior recognition
All federal air marshals are required to complete extensive, quarterly training thereafter throughout their careers.