"On the frontlines, more than 44,000 officers of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screen over two million passengers, 1.3 million checked items and 4.9 million carry-on items at more than 430 airports every day… Successfully securing the (US) nation’s transportation system in a challenging, dynamic, threat environment requires constant communication with a variety of audiences…” TSA acting administrator Dr Huban Gowadia (pictured) had conveyed in a written testimony before a house committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Functioning as part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TSA "works collaboratively with a wide range of partners, from aviation and surface transportation industry stakeholders and international counterparts to intelligence and law enforcement community professionals,” as per her testimony. TSA has been striving to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce in USA.
Gowadia as deputy administrator of TSA has been concurrently functioning as acting administrator since January 20, 2017 whilst awaiting a permanent "Presidentially appointed and Senate confirmed administrator,” she clarifies in her email responses to Parsiana. "As with any agency or establishment, the principal is primarily ‘outward focused’ and the deputy is primarily ‘inward focused.’ The deputy is essentially the chief operating officer and has to manage the daily execution of the administrator’s vision. The administrator spends more time with external stakeholders,” sums up Gowadia.
"I value every opportunity to grow and learn. Through the transition I have had the good fortune to watch Secretary John Kelly up close as he leads the DHS. I particularly identify with his resolute support of our front line staff and under his leadership, hope the Department’s morale will improve,” states Gowadia.
The administrator "is responsible for a workforce of approximately 60,000 employees charged with protecting US transportation systems and the traveling public,” specifies the TSA website. Created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia when nearly 3,000 innocent lives were lost in 2001, TSA, as a high performing counterterrorism organization is designed to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Residing in the US for the last 28 years, Gowadia completed her BSc in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama and a PhD in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University when her dissertation research dealt with "Scientific background for an explosives detection portal for personnel screening.” She initially worked for the Federal Aviation Administration’s aviation security laboratory as part of the explosives and weapons detection team and when the office transitioned to TSA, she served as checkpoint program manager. Post 9/11, she led the TSA initiative to replace all walk-through metal detectors at airports with enhanced systems.
Her varied work experience includes working as director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office at the DHS where she led DHS’s coordinated efforts to protect the US from nuclear terrorism and as program executive for DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate where she led the Countermeasures Test Bed, evaluating next generation technologies for detecting nuclear and other radioactive materials as well as explosives, and developing operational requirements and response protocols.
"My faith gives me great strength, especially in the tough moments,” says 47-year-old Bombay born Gowadia who always wears an asho farohar. "I wear my farohar as a reminder to stay on the right path. Also, this particular jewelry — the necklace and the pendant — were gifts from my grandparents and I am a bit sentimental.” She believes in wearing the sudreh kusti too, and "every day, in addition to our kusti prayers, say extended prayers for the wellbeing of my loved ones. I genuinely miss being around an agiary with the sandalwood burning and the dasturjis praying.” Hailing from an athornan family where her father Aspie and brother Purazar are ordained navars, Huban who is unmarried adds, "If I could, I’d have them do a jashan every time they came to see me!” The other ladies in her family are her mother Dhun and sister-in-law Jennifer.
With her "very hectic work schedule” she regrets she has no time to participate in activities of the local Zoroastrian association "and not much of a social life. Sounds, horrible, no?” she asks rhetorically. When Parsiana had first sought responses from her in early 2017, burdened with her new responsibilities she had sought more time to revert stating, "The Zoroastrian community has always been very supportive…Zoroastrian charities gave me education opportunities, so thank you for affording me this avenue to convey my deep appreciation to them.”
Before she left for the US at the age of 19, her early education was at St Mary’s School in Poona. "I believe that following the tenets of our faith (good thoughts, good words, good deeds) allows us to make positive contributions in our daily lives — at work and otherwise… When growing up, I often heard ‘Parsi, thy name is charity.’ So I try to do my part in that regard as well.”