Argo the dog, a TSA calendar star, protects air travelers by sniffing out explosives

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) — When Argo walks through the doors of Baltimore-Washington International Airport, he knows it’s time to work.

The 9-year-old black Labrador retriever spends most of his waking hours patrolling the airport, with his sensitive nose finely tuned to detect potential explosives.

He sidles up behind passengers and gives them a good sniff. If he gets a whiff of anything suspicious, he immediately alerts his handler, transportation security specialist Jonathan Lilly. The two are gearing up for a busy holiday travel season.

“It never ceases to amaze me what he can do,” Lilly said during a recent demonstration of Argo’s skills. “He’s just so good at it.”

Argo is one of 12 dogs featured in a 2025 TSA canine calendar. For his portrait, he is pictured against an American flag backdrop, his expression eager, almost as if someone were holding his beloved ball just outside the frame.

When he is not posing, Argo has the serious job protecting U.S. air travelers. During the demonstration, he was presented with a “decoy” involving a person wearing a backpack containing something that smelled like potential explosives.

As the man joined other passengers and walked casually toward the security line, Argo immediately reacted to the scent by dropping his nose to the ground, wagging his tail faster and pulling his handler toward the target. He was quickly rewarded with his favorite toy, a tennis ball on a string.

Argo celebrated his accomplishment as usual by flinging the toy around and Lilly rewarded him further with a quick game of tug-of-war. His tail almost never stops wagging. He saunters happily through the throngs of people and luggage, being a good boy.

The pair have been working together for seven years. They are based out of BWI, but have traveled to recent Super Bowls and other locations to provide support. Lilly said he plans to adopt Argo when he retires, but that is likely years away.

“Even at 9 years old, he’s still like a puppy. He still wants to work,” Lilly said.

He said they were a good team from day one, but their bond has only gotten stronger over the years.

TSA dogs are highly trained to detect air currents trailing behind people, like the wake created by a boat, officials said. Their sense of smell is so good they can smell individual components. While humans might register the aroma of pizza, dogs might smell the cheese, sauce and crust separately.

The agency’s explosive detection dogs are trained at the National TSA Canine Training Center in San Antonio, where Argo was assigned to Lilly. The team completed a 16-week program before starting their assignment at BWI. They still undergo frequent training and testing to keep Argo on top of his game.

“That way we can make sure he’s staying proficient in what he’s doing. But also to try to advance because it’s a perishable skill,” Lilly said.

He said having explosives detection dogs patrolling airports serves to both detect and deter potential threats.

When he isn’t working, Argo spends most of his free time napping.

Lilly said the black Lab is incredibly laid-back at home. As a government employee, Argo eats a strict diet for his health. Like many of his human friends, he looks forward to a good meal after a hard day’s work.

Argo, a Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine, working with handler Jonathan Lilly, is rewarded after screening passengers in the ticketing area at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Argo, a Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine, working with handler Jonathan Lilly, reacts as a decoy with explosive odors walks through the ticketing area at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Argo, a Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine, working with handler Jonathan Lilly, enjoys a break while at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Argo, a Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine, working with handler Jonathan Lilly, reacts as a decoy with explosive odors walks through the ticketing area at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Argo, a Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine enjoys a break while working at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Argo, a Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine, working with handler Jonathan Lilly, screens passengers walking through the ticketing area at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Argo, a Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine, who works with handler Jonathan Lilly, walks through the ticketing area at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jen Pawol, who made history last year as the first woman umpire in the major leagues, was behind the plate for the Angels-Dodgers game on Friday night.

Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani greeted her leading off the bottom of the first inning as he customarily does with the umpire in each of his at-bats.

Pawol, 49, umpired during spring training for the third straight year but she did not get one of the permanent staff openings. Instead, she is part of MLB's call-up list.

She worked her first game of the automated balls and strikes challenge system on April 17 when the Giants visited the Nationals.

She became the first female major league umpire on Aug. 9, 2025, and worked a total of five big league games last season. In 2024, she became the first woman to umpire big league spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Pawol has been a minor league ump since 2016 and has worked at Triple-A since 2023.

Pawol was flirting with potential history early in Friday's game.

Angels starter Reid Detmers tossed three hitless innings before allowing a single to Freddie Freeman in the fourth.

Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki pitched no-hit ball through the first four innings before giving up a double to Nick Madrigal in the fifth.

This story has been corrected to show Jen Pawol previously umpired this season.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Home plate umpire Jen Pawol stands at home during the third inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Home plate umpire Jen Pawol asks for more baseballs during the third inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)