All TWIC enrollment centers now open

Sept. 26, 2008
More than 500K workers enrolled in program thus far

2008 SEP 29 - (NewsRx.com) -- The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program is now completely deployed to all 149 U.S. port locations, a major milestone for this key homeland security initiative. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is the lead contractor on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program, providing enrollment and deployment services (see also Lockheed Martin).

The TWIC program's goal is to ensure that any individual who has unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels has received a thorough government background check and is not a security threat; 1.2 million people are expected to enroll.

"We have enrolled more than 500,000 people to date, and with enrollment centers now available at all port facilities, our message to maritime workers who need a TWIC is, 'Come in now and enroll,'" said Judy Marks, president of Lockheed Martin Transportation and Security Solutions.

Workers may pre-enroll for TWIC online at www.tsa.gov/twic or the Coast Guard's Homeport site, http://homeport.uscg.mil/ . Pre-enrollment speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This reduces wait and processing times for applicants at enrollment centers.

"We appreciate that maritime workers are taking time out of their schedules to apply for this credential," said Marks. "That time is valuable - to them and to the companies they support. That's why we continue to make every effort to build convenience into the enrollment process."

Workers at select ports will require a TWIC to gain unescorted access to secure areas of these ports as soon as October 2008. Compliance will be phased in by U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones between Oct. 15, 2008 through April 15, 2009, after which all ports must be in compliance and all workers requiring unescorted access to secure areas of a port must possess a TWIC.

Lockheed Martin assists TSA in the deployment of the TWIC program with its partners, including Daon, CSC, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Intercede, L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc., and Operational Research Consultants, Inc.

For more information about TWIC and a complete list of enrollment sites, please visit the official program Web site at www.tsa.gov/twic.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

For additional information, visit our Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/