Transportation Security Specialist (Explosives Assistant-1801)

The Transportation Security Specialist (Explosives Assistant) Intern serves as a technical resource in explosives detection, counter-IED strategies, and mitigation operations. Interns will learn to assess security vulnerabilities, participate in operational drills, and evaluate screening technologies. They will support TSA personnel during explosives-related incidents, perform basic threat analysis, and help develop training for TSA staff on explosive threats and technologies. The intern will also engage with TSA’s Incident Command System, conduct vulnerability assessments, and review threat intelligence under close supervision. Collaboration with airport authorities, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders will be a core element of the role, focusing on enhancing operational readiness and threat prevention.

In this role, the specialist conducts comprehensive analyses of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), and evolving explosives technology, working closely with TSA leadership, industry partners, and federal agencies to ensure the highest levels of transportation security. The TSS-E develops agency-wide policies, emergency protocols, and training programs to strengthen national security posture against explosive-related threats. The position requires advanced technical skills in explosives effects analysis, post-blast investigations, and aviation survivability testing. Additionally, the specialist is responsible for developing innovative risk assessment tools, improving detection capabilities, and advising law enforcement partners on explosive incident response.