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Diplomatic Security Service



 
 
The U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is the federal law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State
United States Department of State

The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the United States Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States Federal government of the United States, similar to foreign ministries, foreign offices, ministries of external relations, etc....
. The majority of its Special Agents are members of the Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service

The United States Foreign Service is the diplomatic service of the United States government, under the aegis of the United States Department of State....
 and federal law enforcement agents at the same time, making them unique. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service . However, both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies....
 (DS) is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service. Both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies to refer to the DSS.






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The U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is the federal law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State
United States Department of State

The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the United States Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States Federal government of the United States, similar to foreign ministries, foreign offices, ministries of external relations, etc....
. The majority of its Special Agents are members of the Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service

The United States Foreign Service is the diplomatic service of the United States government, under the aegis of the United States Department of State....
 and federal law enforcement agents at the same time, making them unique. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service . However, both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies....
 (DS) is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service. Both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies to refer to the DSS. The DSS was structured as a law enforcement agency, primarily made up of U.S. Federal Agents mandated to serve overseas.

Overview

All DSS agents have the power to arrest, carry firearm
Firearm

A firearm is a tool that projects either single or multiple projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion. The firing is achieved by the gases produced through rapid, confined combustion of a propellant....
s, and serve arrest warrant
Arrest warrant

An arrest warrant is a Warrant issued by and on behalf of the state, which authorizes the arrest and Detention of an individual....
s and other court process. The State Department's web site says that "Diplomatic Security does not formulate foreign policy. It plays another essential — yet behind the scenes — role: To provide a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Not only is Diplomatic Security a unique organization in the foreign affairs community — it is the only law enforcement agency with representation in nearly every country in the world".

When assigned to domestic field offices, DSS agents are responsible for conducting investigations into passport and visa fraud as well as providing protection for the United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the President's United States Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in United States presidential line of succession and United States order of precedence....
 and others. Overseas, DSS agents are called Regional Security Officer
Regional Security Officer

Regional Security Officer is the title given to Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents serving overseas as the heads of security at U.S. diplomatic facilities such as an American Embassy....
s (RSOs), and are charged with the security and law enforcement duties at U.S. missions, embassies, and consular posts. The Diplomatic Security Service is the lead U.S. investigatory agency in cases of international terrorism, although this function may be detailed to the FBI.

There are approximately 1,500 DS Special Agents. Special Agents are sometimes referred to as "DS Agents" or "DSS Agents." Both terms are used interchangeably within the agency and other organizations.

Unlike all other civilian federal law enforcement officers, DSS agents must serve multiple-year tours overseas as a condition of employment. When not at an overseas assignment, they serve domestically, in field offices and HQ positions. A minority of DSS agents are members of the State Department's civil service (GS-1811) and do not serve tours overseas; they focus on criminal work and dignitary protection within the United States.

Hiring process

DSS agents are hired after an intensive evaluation process that includes a Foreign Service Board of Examiners writing evaluation, knowledge-based test, panel interview and situational judgment exercises
Situational judgement test

Situational Judgement Tests or Inventories are a type of psychological test which present the test-taker with realistic, hypothetical scenarios and ask them to identify an appropriate response....
 carried out by veteran DSS agents. Those selected undergo a comprehensive medical examination needed for worldwide availability, as well as an exhaustive background investigation for security clearance
Security clearance

For use by the United Nations, see Security Clearance A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information, e.g., state secrets....
 at the level of top secret/sensitive compartmentalized information
Classified information in the United States

The United States Federal government of the United States Classified information is established under Executive Order 13292, the latest in a long series of Executive order s on the topic....
(TS/SCI). A final suitability review and vote by a Foreign Service panel evaluates a candidate's overall ability to represent the interests of the United States as a diplomat abroad. All agents have at least a four year university degree. Agent candidates must be under the age of 37 at the time of commissioning.

Training

After a new agent candidate is hired, he or she begins an eight month training program that includes the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the [Federal Law Enforcement Training Center] (FLETC) (pronounced flet-see) in Glynco, Georgia; a Basic Special Agent Course at the Diplomatic Security Training Center, and courses at the Foreign Service Institute
Foreign Service Institute

Located in Arlington, Virginia, the Foreign Service Institute is housed at the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center. It is the primary training facility for United States of America United States Foreign Service Officers, replacing the Foreign Service School established in 1924....
 (FSI) in Arlington, Virginia. A new agent is usually assigned to a domestic field office for two years before taking on an overseas assignment, although an agent can expect to be sent on frequent temporary duty assignments overseas even when assigned to a domestic post. However, agents may be called overseas much earlier depending on the needs of DSS. As members of the Foreign Service, agents are expected to spend most of their career living and working overseas, often in hazardous environments or less developed countries throughout the world.

Protection work

DSS is the agency identified to accept high threat protection assignments around the globe. The largest permanent dignitary protection
Dignitary Protection

When the US Government determines that a visiting dignitary needs protection while visiting the United States, these services are most often provided by either the United States Secret Service or the US Department of State?s Diplomatic Security Service....
 detail carried out by DSS agents is on the Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the President's United States Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in United States presidential line of succession and United States order of precedence....
 (currently Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the List of Secretaries of State of the United States United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President of the United States Barack Obama....
). DSS also has an ongoing protection detail on the United States Ambassador to the United Nations
United States Ambassador to the United Nations

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Representative of the United States of America in...
 (currently Susan Rice).

Most all other 'details' are on visiting foreign dignitaries and diplomats, and are on a temporary basis for the duration of a dignitary's visit. Foreign Ministers from important nations, as well as those with threats, are typically covered by DSS.

DSS has the authority to provide protection for Foreign Heads of State, and did so through the early 1970s. At that time there was an order signed by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the only president to resign the office....
 also giving this authority to the U.S.Secret Service
United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service is a United States Federal government of the United States law enforcement agency that falls under the United States Department of Homeland Security....
 (USSS), which has protected heads of state ever since. The appointment of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State raised the question of whether and when the Secret Service or DSS would provide protection. As former First Lady Clinton receives Secret Service protection, as does her husband, who would, presumably, occasionally accompany her on offical trips. However, DSS has been named the lead agency to carry out the protection for Secretary Clinton.

DSS agents have protected such people as Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat

Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his Kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian people leader....
, the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is a lineage of religious leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and was the political leader of Lhasa-based Tibetan government between the 17th century and 1959....
, Zalmay Khalilzad and Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Yeltsin came to power with a wave of high expectations....
 (in the days preceding the collapse of the Soviet Union).

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service . However, both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies....
's Office of Foreign Missions
Office of Foreign Missions

Bureau of Diplomatic Security - Office of Foreign MissionsMandated by Congress, the Office of Foreign Missions provides the legal foundation to facilitate secure and efficient operations of U.S....
 is responsible for the protection of foreign embassies and consulates on U.S. soil. Since the DSS does not have a true uniformed force with police powers, other agencies or local police departments are reimbursed for providing this service. Two notable examples of this are the Secret Service Uniformed Division in Washington, DC and the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department

The New York City Police Department , established in 1844, is currently the largest police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within Borough of New York City....
 in New York City.

During the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, DSS, as well as the USSS, protects many dozens of varied dignitaries, mostly in New York City. DSS may also provide protection to others as assigned, including foreign persons without any government status, but who might have a threat against them. DSS also protects certain U.S. Ambassadors overseas. Currently, the protection detail for the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker
Ryan Crocker

Ryan Clark Crocker is a Diplomatic rank#In the United States Foreign Service within the United States Foreign Service and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom....
, is one of the largest critical threat protection details in the history of DSS. DSS has also protected or does protect the Presidents of Afghanistan, Haiti and Liberia. What makes these 'details' unique is that the protection, done by U.S. federal agents - DSS, is carried out overseas, in the protected person's home country.

Investigations: Passport fraud, visa fraud, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and others

DSS investigations, carried out by numerous Field Offices and Resident Agent offices throughout the U.S, and by RSOs overseas, focus mainly on passport or visa fraud. DSS Special Agents also investigate such cases as international parental kidnapping, violations of the Protect Act, assaults on federally protected persons, fugitive arrests overseas (with host nation assistance), Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence (CI) investigations. If there is a nexus to diplomatic activities, the U.S. Foreign Service, or terrorism, DSS is typically involved.

Passport and visa fraud

It is a felony to apply or assist someone in applying for a U.S. Passport or Visa when they are not entitled to one. Usually this means an alien in the U.S. trying to establish a false U.S. identity, or stealing the identity from an American, often one who has died. Visa fraud can also include being part of or participating in sham marriage
Sham marriage

A sham marriage is a union motivated not so much by love but instead by a desire for political advantage or personal convenience. Examples of the former include many royal marriages, one of the most famous being the marriage between Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 12th Century....
s
in order to allow an unentitled foreigner to become a U.S. citizen.

Sometimes Americans, including Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer

Foreign Service Officers are United States Department of State employees and members of the U.S. Foreign Service who help formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States....
s (FSOs) are the target of DSS investigations, such as an FSO selling visas for personal gain. DSS also investigates other alleged improper or illegal behavior by Department of State personnel, to include incidents of espionage. Such cases would involve other agencies such as the Department of Justice. Overseas DSS must take the role of local and state law enforcement when investigating issues such as spousal or child abuse by U.S. government personnel assigned to the embassy. This is because the host country will not investigate or prosecute diplomats, who are considered to have immunity from their laws. DSS also conducts tens of thousands of background investigations per year - not just for the Department of State, but for other federal agencies as well.

In recent years, DSS has expanded its overseas investigations program with A/RSO-I's (Assistant Regional Security Officer-Investigators) also known as "Overseas Criminal Investigators." These agents are given special training in consular functions, and are commissioned consular officers. However, they spend a large amount of their time working with the fraud units in consular sections, investigating visa and passport fraud, alien smuggling and human trafficking, although they have responsibilities outside of their respective Consular assignments for mission security. They work closely with host country law enforcement agencies, and have recently been instrumental in dismantling several large alien smuggling rings.

Counterintelligence

The Diplomatic Security Service Office of Investigations and Counterintelligence conducts a robust counterintelligence program designed to deter, detect, and neutralize the efforts of foreign intelligence services targeting Department of State personnel, facilities, and diplomatic missions worldwide.

The office's counterintelligence division conducts aggressive counterintelligence inquires and counterespionage investigations with other U.S. Government agencies. All counterespionage investigations are conducted in close coordination with the FBI in accordance with their statutory mandate to prosecute instances or allegations of suspected espionage.

The division conducts numerous counterintelligence and security awareness training programs for all U.S. Government personnel requesting or having access to sensitive Department of State facilities and information. All training programs enhance the understanding of both foreign intelligence and espionage threats and countermeasures, and educate employees on the foreign intelligence environment.

In addition, the office relies on a cadre of security engineers to deter, detect, and neutralize attempts by foreign intelligence services to technically penetrate U.S. office buildings and residences. These efforts range from detecting a simple listening device in the wall to countering the most sophisticated electronic eavesdropping devices and systems.

Counterterrorism

The Diplomatic Security Service maintains agents in dozens of Joint Terrorism Task Force
Joint Terrorism Task Force

A Joint Terrorism Task Force is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, other federal agencies , state and local law enforcement, and specialized agencies, such as railroad police that are charged with taking action against terrorism, which includes the investigation of crimes such as wire fraud and identity theft....
 operations around the country. The Office of Protective Intelligence and Investigations (PII) in the Threat Intelligence and Analysis division has DSS Special Agents who travel all over the world investigating threats to the Secretary of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates. DSS Special Agents on the New York JTTF provided critical information in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and DSS Agents assigned as Regional Security Officers around the world tracked down leads for the FBI and other federal agencies. Any time there is a threat or an attack against a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, DSS Special Agents are the first on the scene to investigate.

Other investigations

The Diplomatic Security Service investigates crimes against State Department personnel and other U.S. Government personnel and families assigned under Chief of Mission authority at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. DSS Special Agents have investigated thefts, assaults, rapes, and murders, among other charges, around the world. Unlike investigations conducted in the United States by other federal agencies, DSS Agents have to work jointly with their foreign counterparts in often hostile areas of the world.

Fugitives
Because the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service is the most widely represented law enforcement organization in the world, DSS’s capability to track and capture fugitives
Fugitives

The Fugitives were a group of poets and literary scholars who came together at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee around 1920. They published a small literary magazine called The Fugitive from 1922-1925 which showcased their works....
 who have fled U.S. jurisdiction to avoid prosecution is unmatched. During 2007, DSS assisted in the resolution of 113 international fugitive cases from over 30 different countries.

On January 28, 2009, a news story broke about a CIA station chief
Station Chief

Station Chief is a term for certain officials who are appointed as chief of a 'station', i.e. a stationary post, of various natures....
 in Algiers
Algiers

Algiers Nicknamed El-Bahdja or Alger la Blanche for the glistening white of its buildings as seen rising up from the sea, Algiers is situated on the west side of a bay of the Mediterranean Sea....
, Algeria
Algeria

Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country located in North Africa. It is the largest country of the Mediterranean sea, second largest in the Arab World, and the second largest on the African continent and the eleventh-largest country in the world in terms of land area....
 who was under investigation by DSS for having allegedly raped two Muslim women.

Computer investigations and forensics branch

The DSS Computer Investigations and Forensics
Forensics

Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or to a civil action....
 Branch (CIF) was established in 2004 to help DSS investigators confront a rapid increase in crimes involving computers and other electronic technologies affecting the Department of State's operations and security.

In 2005, DSS opened 218 investigations involving computer forensics
Computer forensics

Computer forensics is a branch of forensic science pertaining to legal evidence found in computers and digital storage mediums. Computer forensics is also known as digital forensics....
, a 19 percent increase over 2004, and a 43 percent increase over 2003. DSS investigators have used computer forensics to uncover passport and visa fraud
Visa fraud

Visa Fraud has different criteria in various parts of the world, but the commonly accepted points are the sale, provision, or transfer of otherwise legitimate Visa , misrepresentation of reasons for traveling and forgery or alteration of a visa....
, counterintelligence matters, espionage
Espionage

Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secrecy or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information....
 and child pornography
Child pornography

Child pornography refers to images or films depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child; as such, child pornography is a visual record of child sexual abuse....
.

To accomplish its mission, CIF has built a highly skilled staff of Special Agents and civilian forensic examiners, network analysts, and evidence technicians who are specially trained and equipped to execute search warrants worldwide on electronic devices and storage media. CIF personnel analyze those items utilizing the latest forensic technology and methods to extract relevant electronic evidence.

Overseas service


Regional Security Office (RSO)

The DSS presence overseas is led at each post (embassy) by a DSS Special Agent who is referred to as a Regional Security Officer
Regional Security Officer

Regional Security Officer is the title given to Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents serving overseas as the heads of security at U.S. diplomatic facilities such as an American Embassy....
, or more commonly as the RSO, who is the officer in charge of a Regional Security Office and who serves as the senior law enforcement advisor and security advisor to the U.S. Ambassador.

Like all members of the Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service

The United States Foreign Service is the diplomatic service of the United States government, under the aegis of the United States Department of State....
, DSS agents cannot remain posted in the United States for more than five consecutive years and must eventually be assigned to an overseas post.

Once assigned overseas, a DSS agent will typically serve first as a Special Agent (formerly, and commonly still, called Assistant Regional Security Officer (ARSO)) in a Regional Security Office
Regional Security Office

The Regional Security Office is the name of the office at a US Embassy or Consulate which oversees all functions of security. It is headed by a Diplomatic Security Service special agent, who has the title of Regional Security Officer ....
. Agents that enjoy the overseas lifestyle will try to get a second tour in a Special Agent slot at a large embassy or even possibly a Regional Security Officer
Regional Security Officer

Regional Security Officer is the title given to Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents serving overseas as the heads of security at U.S. diplomatic facilities such as an American Embassy....
 (RSO) slot at a small post or a Deputy Regional Security Office (DRSO) at a medium-sized post. Usually after two back-to-back overseas tours agents will be encouraged to return to the U.S. and serve in a Headquarters position before returning overseas as a Regional Security Officer
Regional Security Officer

Regional Security Officer is the title given to Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents serving overseas as the heads of security at U.S. diplomatic facilities such as an American Embassy....
.

DSS has been expanding its criminal role overseas and now has many overseas fraud investigator positions. These positions are referred to as “I” positions - as in “Investigator” - and they are commonly referred to as A/RSO-Is. These agents work out of the consular sections of embassies and consulates instead of the Regional Security Offices. The performance of these agents is rated by the RSO or the Deputy RSO and is reviewed by the Consul General.

There are several other overseas positions filled by DSS agents. At new building construction sites, agents will serve as the Site Security Manager where they will supervise the overall security of the new building including the Construction Security Technicians (CST) and Cleared American Guards (CAG). For construction at posts where there is a critical counterintelligence (CI) threat, agents will also serve as CI investigators dedicated to preventing compromise of the most sensitive spaces within the new embassy.

It is common for domestically assigned DSS agents to serve temporary duty (TDY) at Embassies overseas. Such duty can range from various types of protection duties to RSO support or security training for an overseas post, and may last for as little as a few days to multiple months.

Ramzi Yousef
DSS agents have been involved in the investigations of most terrorist attacks on U.S. interests overseas in the past twenty years, including the 2000 bombing
USS Cole bombing

The USS Cole bombing was a suicide bombing attack against the United States Navy destroyer USS Cole on 12 October 2000 while it was harbored in the Yemeni port of Aden....
 of the USS Cole
USS Cole (DDG-67)

The second USS Cole is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer Aegis combat system-equipped guided missile destroyer homeported in Naval Station Norfolk....
, and bombings of two U.S. Embassies in East Africa
East Africa

East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN subregion, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
 in 1998. Perhaps most notably, in 1995 DSS Special Agents, the RSOs assigned to the U.S. embassy in Pakistan
Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia and borders Central Asia and the Middle East. It has a 1,046 kilometre coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and People's Republic of China in th...
 , along with Pakistani police and Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence

The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence is the largest intelligence service in Pakistan. It is one of the three main branches of Pakistan's intelligence agencies....
 (ISI), arrested Ahmed Ramzi Yousef
Ramzi Yousef

Ramzi Ahmed Yousef or Ramzi Mohammed Yousef , birth name possibly Abdul Basit Mahmoud Abdul Karim and also known by dozens of Pseudonym, was born in Kuwait and is of Pakistani descent who was one of the planners of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing....
, who was wanted in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center
World trade center

The World Trade Centers Association founded in 1970, is a not-for-profit, non-political association dedicated to the establishment and effective operation of World Trade Centers as instruments for trade expansion representing 316 members in 91 countries....
 bombing in New York City. Despite FBI press releases, it was not the FBI who captured Yousef but the ISI and DSS.

DSS agents have often found themselves in harm's way with four agents and 28-contract security specialists killed in the line of duty as of July 2006. The vast majority of DSS casualties had taken place within the five years in Iraq where DSS continued to conduct its most critical and dangerous protective missions.

Special event security

In addition to being posted at US missions around the world, DSS agents also have the unusual role of securing large-scale special events where there is a significant US interest. In the past, DSS agents have worked closely with their foreign counterparts to secure such events as the 2008 Olympic Games
Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event established for both summer and winter sports. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games; the first were the Ancient Olympic Games held at Olympia, Greece, Greece....
 in Beijing
Beijing

is a metropolis in northern China and the Capital of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the four municipality of China, which are equivalent to province in China's Political divisions of China....
, China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
, the 2007 Pan American Games
Pan American Games

The Pan American Games are a multi-sport event, held every four years between competitors from all nations in America. The last edition was held in 2007 Pan American Games, Brazil and the next will be in 2011 Pan American Games, Mexico....
 in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , is the second largest city of Brazil and South America, behind S?o Paulo, and the third largest metropolitan area in South America, behind S?o Paulo and Buenos Aires....
, Brazil
Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....
, World Cup
World cup

A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities - usually international teams or individuals representing their continents - compete for the title of world champion....
 Soccer Matches, the 2006 Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games

The Winter Olympic Games are a winter multi-sport event held every four years. They feature winter sports held on snow or ice, such as Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, bobsledding and ice hockey....
 in Turin
Turín

Tur?n is a municipality in the Ahuachap?n Department Departments of El Salvador of El Salvador....
, Italy
Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia....
, and a host of other special events. While the Olympics are the most well-known events, DSS agents have worked with host country security on numerous other large-scale events around the world. For events with a large US presence, such as the Olympics, an Olympic Security Coordinator - always a DSS agent - will be named to manage all of the security and liaison with the host government. All other federal agencies, such as the FBI, ATF
ATF

ATF is a three-letter abbreviation that can stand for:* Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives commonly referred to as "the ATF", a law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice...
, and DoD components, will report to the DSS agent in charge.

DSS history


The origins of the DSS go back to 1916 with a handful of agents assigned special duties directly by the Secretary of State, Robert Lansing
Robert Lansing

Robert Lansing served in the position of Legal Advisor to the State Department at the outbreak of World War I where he vigorously advocated against Britain's policy of blockade and in favor of the principles of freedom of the seas and the rights of neutral nations....
. Headed by a Chief Special Agent, who was also called Special Assistant to the Secretary, these agents worked in Washington, D.C., and New York City. This group of agents would sometimes be referred to as the office of the Chief Special Agent. They were operated with private funds from the Secretary's office. Conducting sensitive investigations, they focused mainly on foreign agents and their activities in the United States (this in the days before the CIA; and before the FBI became the primary domestic intelligence organization for the U.S.).

Bureau of Secret Intelligence

It was known as the Bureau of Secret Intelligence
Bureau of Secret Intelligence

The Bureau of Secret Intelligence was founded in 1916. The Department of State's Bureau of Secret Intelligence , was also known as U-1, an off-the-books adjunct to the Division of Information ....
 at its inception (1916). The Department of State's Bureau of Secret Intelligence
Bureau of Secret Intelligence

The Bureau of Secret Intelligence was founded in 1916. The Department of State's Bureau of Secret Intelligence , was also known as U-1, an off-the-books adjunct to the Division of Information ....
 was also known as U-1, an off-the-books adjunct to the Division of Information. Before the United States entered World War I, German and Austrian spies were conducting operations in New York City. The spies were using forged or stolen identity papers. President Woodrow Wilson authorized the Secretary of State to establish a security arm of the Department of State. Three agents were recruited from the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service is a United States Federal government of the United States law enforcement agency that falls under the United States Department of Homeland Security....
 because of their experience with counterfeit documents. Since the United States Postal Inspection Service
United States Postal Inspection Service

The United States Postal Inspection Service is the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service. Its jurisdiction is defined as "crimes that may adversely affect or mail fraud use the U.S....
 had the best laboratory, the director of the new agency was recruited there.

The assumption is that the name "Office of the Chief Special Agent," which was sometimes used in 1916, and to this day by various information portals to include the Department of State's website, to downplay the bureau's original mission.

After 1918, when Congress passed laws requiring passports for Americans returning from overseas, and visas for aliens entering the United States, State Department agents began investigating passport and visa fraud. Around this same time State Department agents began protecting distinguished visitors to the United States. During World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
 the Chief Special Agent's office had the responsibility for interning and exchanging diplomatic officials of enemy powers. By the 1920s the Chief Special Agent, no longer reporting his office's activities directly to the Secretary of State, began reporting to the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration. Within the next two decades major passport fraud activities were detected worldwide, often involving both Communists and Nazis. Many of these fraud rings were exposed and neutralized.

Office of Security (S.Y.)

During World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, State Department agents were once again involved in interning and exchanging diplomatic officials of enemy powers. Around this time the Chief Special Agent's office became known as 'SY
SY

SY may refer to:* The Office of Security , former name of the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service* The IATA code for Sun Country Airlines...
', which was short for the Office of Security, which in turn was under the Administration Bureau of the Management Undersecretary. After World War II, 'SY' began expanding its presence overseas, with numerous Regional Security Officer
Regional Security Officer

Regional Security Officer is the title given to Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents serving overseas as the heads of security at U.S. diplomatic facilities such as an American Embassy....
 (RSO) positions created in overseas posts.

In 1961, Otto Otepka
Otto Otepka

Otto Otepka, born in 1915, was a Deputy Director of the U.S. State Department's Office of Security in the late 1950's and early 1960's. This organization was often simply known as "SY" and in the 1980's became the Diplomatic Security Service....
, then a Deputy Director of 'SY', brought to the attention of the United States Senate
United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the Bicameralism United States Congress, the lower house being the United States House of Representatives....
 Internal Security Subcommittee deficiencies in the State Department clearance process. The allegations were traced all the way up to then Secretary of State
Secretary of State

Secretary of State is a commonly used title for a member of government. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the government....
 Dean Rusk
Dean Rusk

David Dean Rusk was the United States Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He was the second-longest serving Secretary of State, behind Cordell Hull....
. Despite multiple awards, appeals from multiple U.S. Senators, and not backing down, Secretary Rusk removed Otepka from his position and ultimately unceremoniously fired him.

Starting sometime after World War II 'SY' began regularly protecting visiting heads of state, and codifying its procedures for overseas security. However, the number of agents remained relatively small through the 1970s, hovering around 300, with more than half of these serving overseas at any given time. The April 1983 US Embassy bombing was a catharsis for 'SY', which would transform 'SY' into the newly created Diplomatic Security Service, part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Diplomatic Security Service

Congress formed a commission headed by Admiral Inman to look into the bombings of U.S. Diplomatic facilities in Beirut. The resultant Inman Report
Inman Report

The Inman Report, formally known as the Report of the Secretary of State's Advisory Panel on Overseas Security, was a report released in 1985 in response to the Marine barracks bombing and the April 1983 US Embassy bombing in Beirut, Lebanon....
 recommended that security at the State Department needed to be elevated to a higher priority. Thus in 1985 Congress created the Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service . However, both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies....
 (DS), headed by an Assistant Secretary of State, and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), headed by the Director of DSS, who is subordinate to the Assistant Secretary of State for DS.

The DSS, technically a sub unit of DS, had a director placed at its head. The Director of DSS is an active DSS agent, and is often referred to by a term more familiar: the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS), as he/she is senior to the various Assistant Directors of Diplomatic Security who hold positions equivalent to Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS). The PDAS designation signifies the DSS director's preeminence over the other DASs within DS, while at the same time signifying his/her position under the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security.

The first several Assistant Secretaries for DS were senior Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer

Foreign Service Officers are United States Department of State employees and members of the U.S. Foreign Service who help formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States....
s, the last three have been senior law enforcement, brought in from other law enforcement agencies. With the creation of DS and the DSS, its ranks grew to well over 1,000 agents. However, by the mid 1990s budget cutbacks were foisted on the U.S. State Department by Congress and the Department in turn trimmed the budget of DSS to the point where it had dwindled to a little over 600 agents. At the time this seemed justified by Department hierarchy who thought DS was growing much too fast in over-reaction to the Beirut bombings.

Although DS was by then a Bureau within the State Department, overseas the vast majority of RSOs continued to report to the Administration Officer. This changed in 1999, as fallout from the east Africa embassy bombings of 1998. The terse message from the then Undersecretary for Management announcing the immediate change made it clear that this action was against his best judgment and insinuated that it was done because then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright ordered it. This change stripped DS out from under Administration Officers and placed the RSO directly under the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in the chain of command at an Embassy.

In recent years DS, although not autonomous from the U.S. State Department, has been given more leeway in handling its own affairs. Budgetary approvals and allocations and hiring and promotion numbers for DS and DSS still must be cleared through the U.S. State Department. Traditionally DS, and more specifically the Diplomatic Security Service, has had a conflicted relationship with its parent agency, the U.S. State Department. The main mission of the U.S. State Department is not law enforcement, but is of course diplomacy. Having a law enforcement arm has not been an easy fact for the State Department culture to accept. In fact, for a number of years DS was told specifically by the State Department that it was not a law enforcement agency, and the title of Foreign Service Diplomatic Security officer was emphasized while the title of Special Agent was downplayed. The State Department now more readily accepts the 'special agent' terminology.

Looking at its history it becomes apparent there is a pattern of forced changes in relation to security for the U.S. State Department and its facilities overseas (American embassies and consulates). Often this change is the result of a serious incident, such as a terrorist attack on a U.S. mission. Since 1999 and especially after the creation of the U.S. embassies in Kabul
Kabul

Kabul is the Capital and largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of approximately three million. It is an economic and cultural centre, situated 5,900 foot above sea level in a narrow valley, wedged between the Hindu Kush mountains along the Kabul River....
 and Baghdad
Baghdad

Baghdad is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous. With a municipal population estimated at 6.5 million, it is the largest city in Iraq, and the second largest city in the Arab World....
 there seems to be an increasing acceptance and desire by State Department hierarchy to fully embrace and support the goals of the Diplomatic Security Service. Likewise, DS has been allowed a greater degree of independent action in administering itself and has been allowed to hire new agents at a rate that keeps overall numbers from slipping downward.

DS vs. DSS

For people who do not work for the Department of State (DoS), there is much confusion about the relationship between the Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service . However, both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies....
 (DS) and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Even within Department of State there is still some confusion regarding the difference between DS and the DSS.

DS oversees all security related matters of the U.S. Department of State, which includes security at U.S. embassies and consulates. DS has approximately 34,000 employees; 1,500 of whom are the U.S. federal agents within DSS. The DSS was structured as a law enforcement agency within DS. As such the DSS is the primary mechanism by which DS accomplishes its law enforcement (criminal investigative) and security missions.

An Assistant Secretary of State is in charge of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Office of Foreign Missions
Office of Foreign Missions

Bureau of Diplomatic Security - Office of Foreign MissionsMandated by Congress, the Office of Foreign Missions provides the legal foundation to facilitate secure and efficient operations of U.S....
 (OFM). Under the Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Eric Boswell, are several Deputy Assistant Secretaries (DAS). The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) is the Director for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The Director of DSS is an active DSS Special Agent.

Within DoS, all employees who work for DS (the bureau) are referred to as DS employees. Even within DSS, agents refer to themselves as DS Agents. This usage is also used in DoS press releases, although recently multi-agency press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s offices use the technically correct Diplomatic Security Service.

Things get muddled even further when one looks at the assignments available to DSS agents. Agents are frequently assigned to positions within DS (the bureau) but outside of the DSS chain of command hierarchy. This may seem a little counterintuitive but is a common practice within the Department of State. For example while assigned overseas, DoS employees are evaluated by their superiors at the embassy or consulate to which they are assigned. In the case of DSS agents, the RSO (senior special agent at post) is rated by the Deputy Chief of Mission and reviewed by the Chief of Mission (Ambassador). The DSS hierarchy in Washington has no input on the agent’s evaluation. This is only a technicality however; as agents frequently receive instructions from HQ.

Bureau of Secret Intelligence (Office of the Chief Special Agent) directors

  • Robert Lansing
    Robert Lansing

    Robert Lansing served in the position of Legal Advisor to the State Department at the outbreak of World War I where he vigorously advocated against Britain's policy of blockade and in favor of the principles of freedom of the seas and the rights of neutral nations....
     (1916 - ?)


SY directors

  • Otto Otepka
    Otto Otepka

    Otto Otepka, born in 1915, was a Deputy Director of the U.S. State Department's Office of Security in the late 1950's and early 1960's. This organization was often simply known as "SY" and in the 1980's became the Diplomatic Security Service....
     (1959 - 1962)
  • John Francis Reilly (1962 - ?)


DSS directors

  • Clark Ditmer
  • Mark Mulvey (1994-1996)
  • Greg Bujac (1996-1999)
  • Peter Bergin (1999 - 2003)
  • Joe B. Morton (2003 - 2007)
  • Gregory B. Starr
    Gregory B. Starr

    Gregory B. Starr is the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service and the senior most DSS Special Agent. As such he is also the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary within Bureau of Diplomatic Security , since March 1, 2007, and was the acting Assistant Secretary of State for DS from October 2007 to July 2008....
     (2007 - present)


Weapons used by agents


Standard issue
  • SIG P228 in 9 mm (pistol)
  • SIG P229 in 9 mm (pistol)
  • Remington 870
    Remington 870

    The Remington Model 870 is a United States-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms It is widely used by the public for target shooting, hunting, and self-defense....
     (12 gauge shotgun)
  • Colt SMG (9 mm submachine gun)
  • Colt M4
    M4 Carbine

    The M4 Carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16 rifle, all based on the original AR-15 made by ArmaLite....
     (5.56 mm Carbine)


Former weapons included the Uzi submachine gun
Uzi submachine gun

The Uzi is a related family of submachine guns. Smaller variants are considered machine pistols.The first Uzi submachine gun was designed by Uziel Gal in the late 1940s....
 and the Ruger Mini-14 carbine. Stockless or 'shorty' versions of the Remington 870 shotgun may still be found in some DSS offices. DSS agents used to carry the Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolver (357 cal.), but switched to 9 mm pistols around 1993.

Additional issue
  • M249 SAW machine gun
  • M240
    M240

    The M240, formally Machine Gun, 7.62mm, M240, is a family of Belt , gas-operated reloading medium machine guns firing the 7.62x51mm NATO Cartridge ....
     machine gun
  • M203 grenade launcher
    M203 grenade launcher

    The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade grenade launcher that attaches to a number of popular assault rifles, but was originally designed for the U.S....


These and other weapons systems may be employed by DSS agents assigned to high-threat locations. The agents going to those locations attend additional training before they are deployed.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Diplomatic Security Service, 4 Special Agents have died in the line of duty.

Officer Date of Death Details
Wednesday, December 21, 1988
Terrorist attack on Pan Am flight 103
Wednesday, December 21, 1988
Terrorist attack on Pan Am flight 103
Sunday, October 24, 2004
mortar attack - Iraq
Monday, September 19, 2005
car bomb - Iraq


See also

  • List of United States federal law enforcement agencies
    List of United States federal law enforcement agencies

    The federal Government of the United States empowers a wide range of law enforcement agency to maintain law and public order related to matters affecting the country as a whole....
  • Bureau of Diplomatic Security
    Bureau of Diplomatic Security

    The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the parent organization of the Diplomatic Security Service . However, both terms are used interchangeably within the State Department and other agencies....
  • Mobile Security Deployment
    Mobile Security Deployment

    The 'Mobile Security Deployment' is a specialized unit within the Diplomatic Security Service of the United States Department of State. The MSD unit is made up of specially trained DSS Special Agents....
     (MSD), Diplomatic Security Service's "Special Ops/SWAT unit"
  • Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State
    Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State

    The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State is the branch of the U.S. State Department that investigates waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement....


Furtner reading

  • 1999 — Book - The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousef
    Ramzi Yousef

    Ramzi Ahmed Yousef or Ramzi Mohammed Yousef , birth name possibly Abdul Basit Mahmoud Abdul Karim and also known by dozens of Pseudonym, was born in Kuwait and is of Pakistani descent who was one of the planners of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing....
    , Osama bin Laden and the Future of Terrorism, by Simon Reeve
    Simon Reeve

    Simon Reeve may refer to:* Simon Reeve , British author and television presenter* Simon Reeve , Australian television presenter...
     (UK Television Presenter)
  • 1999 — On the Inside (Discovery Channel TV show) - State Department Protectors (Knightscenes Productions)
  • 2000 — Investigative Reports (A&E TV show) - In the Line of Fire (44 Blue Productions)
  • 2001 — Badges Without Borders (TLC TV show) - Inside the Diplomatic Security Service (Red Apple Entertainment Productions)
  • 2002 — Book - Relentless Pursuit: The DSS and the Manhunt for the Al-Qaeda Terrorists , Samuel M. Katz
  • 2003 — Targeted: Volume 1, The Evil Genius (Ramzi Yousef
    Ramzi Yousef

    Ramzi Ahmed Yousef or Ramzi Mohammed Yousef , birth name possibly Abdul Basit Mahmoud Abdul Karim and also known by dozens of Pseudonym, was born in Kuwait and is of Pakistani descent who was one of the planners of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing....
    ) (Wild Eyes Productions for the History Channel; A&E Networks)
  • 2004 — Heroes Under Fire (History Channel TV Show) - Escape from Liberia (Wild Eyes Productions)
  • 2005 — Heroes Under Fire (History Channel TV Show) - Caught in the Middle (Wild Eyes Productions) DSS/MSD in Haiti
  • 2006 — Critical Threat — Life in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (Wild Eyes Productions)
  • 2007 — A Mighty Heart (film)
    A Mighty Heart (film)

    A Mighty Heart is a 2007 in film film directed by Michael Winterbottom; It is an adaptation of Mariane Pearl's memoir, A Mighty Heart. Although initially a financial failure, A Mighty Heart was met with relatively positive reviews from both critics and viewers alike....
     - DSS Special Agent Randall Bennett leads the team investigating Daniel Pearl's kidnapping and murder.
  • 2008 — Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent - A memoir by former DSS Special Agent Fred Burton
    Fred Burton

    Fred Burton is Stratfor's Vice President for Counterterrorism and Corporate Security, and is "one of the world's foremost experts on security, terrorists and terrorist organizations."...
     in which he chronicles his service in the DSS counterterrorism branch.


External links

  • (MSD)