Former Wall Street Trader Joins TSA After 9/11 Attacks
- On September 11, 2001, Thomas Battillo was a Wall Street trader who narrowly escaped the attacks while on a call outside the World Trade Center.
- He lost many colleagues that day, which deeply affected him and led to a career change.
- In 2011, he joined the TSA, where he now serves as the assistant federal security director, committed to ensuring air travel safety.
Thomas Battillo was a Wall Street trader who narrowly escaped the 9/11 attacks while heading to breakfast at the World Trade Center. On that fateful morning, he received a call from his son, which led him to stay outside instead of going to the restaurant. As he spoke, he witnessed the first plane crash into the building, realizing the gravity of the situation. Tragically, many of his colleagues perished that day, contributing to the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the attacks. In the aftermath, Battillo took refuge with a friend in Staten Island before returning to New Jersey. The experience left a lasting impact on him, as he reflected on the ordinary lives disrupted by the tragedy. Battillo's journey of healing led him to a new career path in 2011 when he joined the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as an officer in Newark, New Jersey. Over the years, he advanced within the TSA and currently serves as the assistant federal security director for mission support at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Battillo's work is driven by a commitment to ensuring the safety of air travel, motivated by the loss he experienced on 9/11. He views his role not merely as a job but as a mission to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. Battillo finds solace in knowing that he contributes to the safety of families traveling by air, believing that his efforts help provide peace of mind to others, including his own family.