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TThe Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today announced that Logan International Airport was selected by Airport Security Report as the winner of the first annual Exceptional Performance in Airport Security Award. The award recognizes Logan Airport for significant advances in security and management, strong leadership and its ability to maintain public confidence in air travel. The award was given at the annual conference of the Airports Council International-North America in Houston on September 21, 2004. San Francisco International Airport received honorable mention.

Massport is pleased that Airport Security Report and its panel of distinguished judges have chosen to recognize Logan Airport for its efforts to raise the bar in aviation security, said Massport Aviation Director Thomas J. Kinton, Jr. Our philosophy is that security is the job of everyone in the airport community. And at Logan Airport we have experienced unparalleled levels of cooperation and commitment from all stakeholders.

Airport Security Report introduced the awards program earlier this year in response to the security challenges facing airports nationwide and the need to provide an updated benchmark for outstanding airport security.

Logan Airport was selected after an intensive judging process by airport security experts and the staff of Airport Security Report. In choosing Logan Airport as the winner, one judge emphasized that in a matter of weeks after 9/11 when Washington as well as the rest of the country was exercising a great deal of confusion, Logan was engaged in a focused effort to create high security standards, many of which were later adopted at the national level.

Federal Security Director George Naccara also praised the efforts at Logan. Logan Airport has earned a reputation throughout the federal government and the industry of being a very progressive and aggressive supporter of improved security in concert with customer service. Logan is the airport of choice to test new technologies, new designs and security protocols and continue to strive to improve their performance.

Logan Airport was recognized for its proactive and innovative security programs, including:

Becoming the first airport to install a 100 percent in-line baggage screening system before the federal deadline;
Training State Police and other airport staff to identify suspicious behavior through Behavior Pattern Recognition (BPR);
Equipping State Police with sub-machine guns; purchasing document authentication technology for the employee badge office;
Purchasing hand-held wireless devices for State Police to conduct on-the-spot criminal background checks; and,
Testing cargo screening equipment through a pilot program with L-3 Communications.

Logan Airport was also commended for instituting daily security meetings to engage all airports stakeholders in security issues.

Boston Logan has shown how important decisions in the past are paying dividends each and every day, said Eric Grasser, editor of Airport Security Report. Boston Logan successfully demonstrates how leadership, purpose, collaboration, and innovative security practices provide strong security. Those principles are effective without disrupting airport operations or failing to provide good customer service. One of the most important values Boston Logan management exhibits is the willingness to institute prudent security practices that go beyond federal requirements.

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