TSA Public Affairs Specialist: 1035 Duties, Writing Samples and Resume
TSA Public Affairs Specialists explain agency programs, policies and activities to travelers, journalists, transportation stakeholders and the public.
The occupation is commonly classified in federal series 1035, Public Affairs. OPM does not publish a separate Individual Occupational Requirement for this series, so qualification depends on the general administrative standard and the specialized experience stated in the vacancy.
TSA places Public Affairs within its Mission Support communications careers. The work is not simply writing promotional content. It requires accurate, timely and authorized communication about a national transportation-security agency.
Public Affairs employees must protect classified information, Sensitive Security Information, Privacy Act information, law-enforcement-sensitive material and other nonpublic content. This guide does not describe internal approval chains or crisis-response procedures.
Role at a Glance
| Topic | General current information |
|---|---|
| Occupational series | 1035 Public Affairs |
| Career family | Mission Support communications |
| Main purpose | Authorized public, media and stakeholder communication |
| Degree requirement | Not universal |
| Specialized experience | Commonly required |
| Federal resume | Required |
| Writing samples | Commonly useful and sometimes required |
| Interview or writing exercise | Possible |
| Background process | Required |
| Clearance or sensitivity | Position specific |
| Travel | Position specific |
| Telework | Vacancy specific |
| Personal authority to speak for TSA | No; authorization and approval procedures apply |
What Public Affairs Work Can Include
Assignments can involve:
- responding to media inquiries;
- preparing news releases;
- drafting public statements;
- developing communication plans;
- arranging interviews or press events;
- preparing talking points;
- writing speeches or remarks;
- supporting social-media communication;
- coordinating airport or regional outreach;
- explaining policy changes to the public;
- developing traveler-information campaigns;
- preparing fact sheets and frequently asked questions;
- monitoring news coverage;
- correcting inaccurate public information;
- advising leaders on communication risk;
- coordinating with other government agencies;
- supporting crisis communication; and
- evaluating communication effectiveness.
The specific audience matters. Communication intended for national media is different from airport-community outreach, employee communication or technical stakeholder engagement.
Media Relations
Media-relations work can require a specialist to:
- receive and clarify journalist questions;
- identify the correct subject-matter office;
- verify facts;
- distinguish public from protected information;
- draft an approved response;
- prepare a spokesperson;
- coordinate deadlines;
- document the inquiry; and
- correct the record when appropriate.
Speed matters, but accuracy and authorization matter more. A rapid answer that discloses protected information or misstates agency policy can create operational, legal and reputational harm.
Crisis and Incident Communication
Public Affairs can support communication during transportation disruptions, security incidents, severe weather, major events or other high-interest situations.
The role can involve:
- maintaining a verified public-information picture;
- coordinating approved messages;
- preparing updates as facts change;
- correcting rumors;
- supporting executive briefings;
- communicating with affected airports or stakeholders; and
- ensuring public information does not interfere with operations or investigations.
A Public Affairs Specialist is not the incident commander and does not independently release operational details. The employee communicates within assigned authority and established procedures.
Social Media and Digital Communication
TSA has a substantial public-facing digital presence. A Public Affairs Specialist can support:
- platform-specific posts;
- traveler education;
- campaign calendars;
- visual-content coordination;
- comment or trend monitoring;
- accessibility and plain-language review;
- performance metrics;
- rapid correction of misinformation; and
- escalation of issues requiring official response.
Personal social-media habits do not automatically qualify someone for federal public affairs. The resume must show professional judgment, approved messaging, audience strategy and measurable results.
Public Affairs Versus Writer-Editor
The occupations overlap in writing quality, but their primary purposes differ.
| Public Affairs Specialist 1035 | Writer-Editor 1082 |
|---|---|
| Communicates with the public, media and external stakeholders | Develops, edits and improves written products |
| Advises on public-information strategy | Focuses on editorial quality, structure and publication standards |
| Handles media inquiries and public messaging | Can work on manuals, reports, speeches, web content or technical publications |
| Often works under urgent news deadlines | Often manages editorial review and production cycles |
| Evaluates audience and reputational effects | Evaluates clarity, accuracy, consistency and style |
One vacancy can contain both kinds of work, but the occupational series should reflect the paramount requirement.
Read the TSA Writer-Editor guide before submitting the same portfolio to both positions.
Public Affairs Versus Internal Communications
Public Affairs primarily serves external audiences. Internal communications serves employees and managers.
The two can overlap when an issue affects both the workforce and the public, but messages, approvals, privacy concerns and communication channels can differ.
Do not assume that experience writing employee newsletters proves media-relations competence. Explain audience, stakes and decision-making.
Qualifications
Because series 1035 has no separate OPM Individual Occupational Requirement, qualification can be based on routes permitted by the announcement, including:
- specialized experience;
- education at qualifying entry levels;
- a combination of education and experience; or
- an applicable hiring authority.
Relevant specialized experience can include:
- media relations;
- public-information work;
- crisis communication;
- strategic communication;
- government or corporate communications;
- speechwriting;
- digital communication;
- stakeholder outreach;
- communication planning;
- campaign evaluation;
- spokesperson preparation; and
- writing for public release.
A communications degree can help, but it is not universally required.
Writing Samples and Portfolio
A vacancy can request writing samples or evaluate writing during the hiring process.
Useful samples can include:
- a news release;
- public statement;
- fact sheet;
- communication plan;
- executive talking points;
- speech;
- public-facing web article;
- crisis communication product;
- media-response package; or
- campaign evaluation.
Use only material you are authorized to share.
Remove or replace:
- confidential names;
- internal contact lists;
- privileged advice;
- draft deliberations;
- classified information;
- Sensitive Security Information;
- personally identifiable information;
- protected operational details; and
- unpublished client or employer information.
When collaborative work is submitted, explain your own contribution.
Federal Resume Evidence
A strong resume should identify:
- audiences served;
- communication channels;
- media markets or stakeholder groups;
- number and type of inquiries handled;
- campaigns developed;
- writing products created;
- crisis or high-interest issues supported;
- executive leaders advised;
- approval coordination performed;
- digital reach or engagement where meaningful;
- corrections or risk reductions achieved;
- accessibility or plain-language improvements;
- dates; and
- hours worked per week.
Useful outcomes can include:
- improved response time;
- reduced recurring public confusion;
- increased campaign reach;
- corrected inaccurate coverage;
- improved traveler compliance with published guidance;
- created a reusable media-response process;
- increased accessibility; or
- delivered accurate communication during a high-pressure event.
Do not rely only on impressions or follower counts. Explain the communication objective and evidence of effectiveness.
Accuracy, Approval and Editorial Independence
Public Affairs Specialists can advise leaders, but official communication must remain accurate and authorized.
Professional judgment can require:
- correcting a proposed statement;
- identifying unsupported claims;
- refusing to release protected information;
- distinguishing confirmed facts from assumptions;
- documenting approvals;
- explaining why a message could mislead the public;
- coordinating with legal, privacy, security or operational offices; and
- recommending that communication be delayed until facts are verified.
The role is not to make every situation appear favorable. It is to communicate truthfully within legal and policy requirements.
Interview Preparation
Prepare examples involving:
- a difficult media inquiry;
- an urgent deadline with incomplete information;
- a public error that needed correction;
- disagreement with a senior leader about wording;
- protected information that could not be released;
- crisis communication;
- coordination across several offices;
- a campaign that underperformed;
- adapting one message for different audiences;
- a social-media issue;
- a writing product that required extensive revision; and
- a communication mistake you corrected.
A strong response explains:
- the audience and communication objective;
- the facts available;
- the risks and restrictions;
- your personal role;
- the approval and coordination process at an appropriate level;
- the product delivered; and
- the result.
Can a TSO Move Into Public Affairs?
Yes, after developing relevant communication qualifications.
Operational TSA experience can provide valuable subject-matter knowledge. Useful development can include:
- approved airport outreach;
- public-information support;
- internal communications;
- writing or editing assignments;
- community events;
- communication coursework;
- digital-content experience;
- speech or briefing preparation;
- administrative details; and
- formal public-affairs experience.
Checkpoint customer service alone usually does not prove 1035 specialized experience. The resume should show strategic communication, authorized messaging and written products.
Pay, Location and Telework
Pay depends on TSA band, locality, duty station, experience, level of responsibility, supervisory duties and the final offer.
Public Affairs positions can be located at headquarters, regional offices or airports. Some work can be telework eligible, while media events, airport outreach, executive support and crisis response can require onsite work or irregular hours.
Common Application Mistakes
Applicants often:
- describe personal social-media activity as professional public affairs;
- provide no writing samples;
- submit confidential work products;
- confuse publicity with public information;
- omit audience, objective and results;
- claim spokesperson authority they did not hold;
- fail to explain approval responsibilities;
- confuse 1035 with 1082 Writer-Editor;
- list follower counts without communication impact;
- copy the vacancy;
- omit hours worked per week; or
- assume communications work is fully remote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What series is TSA Public Affairs Specialist?
1035 Public Affairs.
Is a communications degree required?
Not universally. The announcement controls qualification routes.
Are writing samples required?
They can be required or requested. Prepare authorized samples before applying.
Can a Public Affairs Specialist speak for TSA without approval?
No. Official communication must follow authorization and approval requirements.
Is Public Affairs the same as Writer-Editor?
No. Public Affairs focuses on public and media communication; Writer-Editor focuses on editorial products and publication quality.
Can a TSO become a Public Affairs Specialist?
Yes, after developing relevant professional communication experience.
Exploring Mission Support roles?
Use the Mission Support careers hub to compare series and education requirements. When a vacancy opens, apply through the TSA application guide and track progress with the application status guide. Many candidates start as TSOs — review the TSA test-prep hub and optional JobTestPrep TSA PrepPack.