FOREWORD  The fundamental mission of the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) is to ensure the  safe provision of air traffic services in the National Airspace System (NAS). Thanks to its employees, the ATO operates the safest, most efficient air traffic  system in the world. As the ATO helps build the Next Generation Air Transportation System, the  resulting cross-organizational changes to the NAS require an intensive,  proactive, and systematic focus on assuring safety. ATO uses the Safety  Management System (SMS) to achieve this. The SMS constitutes the operating  principles that support the ATO in objectively examining the safety of its  operations. This document is the result of an ATO-wide effort, and reflects current  international best practices and intra-agency lessons learned. It marks an  important next step toward a mature and integrated SMS in the FAA. Therefore,  it is important that all ATO personnel work diligently to uphold and follow the  procedures and guidance in this SMS Manual to manage safety risk and help  promote a positive safety culture in the ATO and the FAA.  Teri Bristol Chief Operating Officer  Air Traffic Organization 