Head of TSA at PIT Retires

At the end of Karen Keys-Turner’s workday on Sept. 27, she turned in her TSA phone and other equipment and, for the first time in 23 years, will no longer be on call 24/7.

Keys-Turner is retiring as the ranking TSA authority for aviation and transportation security operations at Pittsburgh International Airport and 13 other federally monitored airports in Pennsylvania for which she has had responsibility. This ends her 23 years of service with the TSA and eight years serving the Commonwealth.

“I won’t miss the 3 a.m. phone calls,” she said. “I will miss my team and those I enjoy working with, especially at Pittsburgh International Airport. There have been some challenges. But we work so well together because we have the same goal: to provide the best customer service and security we can.”

Keys-Turner has successfully navigated numerous challenges during her tenure. This includes now handling approximately 10 million travelers a year, an increase of over 1 million since 2016. Her strategic approach and innovative solutions have been instrumental in addressing the rising volume and other challenges.

Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director at PIT, was recognized by ACAA, airline station management and security personnel and gifted a taxiway light for her 8 years of service at the airport. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)

To help mitigate wait times in the TSA lanes, she has re-routed pre-check passengers to move as many people through as quickly as possible; expanded lanes and staff to maximize open lanes, especially during peak hours; and she brought K-9 teams to the airport to help with the screening process.

Keys-Turner also introduced the latest technological advancements to PIT – most recently, the newest generation of credential authentication technology (CAT) to verify travelers’ identities in real-time. CAT units scan a traveler’s photo identification and confirm their identity and flight details, increasing efficiency by automatically verifying a passenger’s identification.

“I have worked so well with the Allegheny County Airport Authority… a good passenger experience is great for the airport, airlines, and TSA. From the booking experience to the security queue/line wait, the effective/efficient security screening, and the airport/airline amenities thereafter, we do our best to ensure freedom and ease of movement for the traveler,” said Keys-Turner said.

“The Allegheny County Airport Authority would like to thank Karen Keys-Turner for her 23 years of service and especially the last eight years overseeing Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport,” said Travis McNichols, Chief Operations Officer at Allegheny County Airport Authority. “She has been an outstanding partner, helping us to navigate the steady growth of passengers and operations over the last several years as the airport has seen record growth.”

A Michigan native, Keys-Turner said she is deeply grateful for the relationships she has built during her tenure. She looks forward to maintaining these connections as she embarks on new adventures, including spending more time with her family (especially her new grandson Bryson), traveling, and contributing to her community.

“It’s been an honor to serve, and I will miss everyone,” she said. “I will not miss having two phones and those early morning phone calls, though.”