Bureau of Diplomatic Security

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The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, more commonly known as Diplomatic Security, or DS, includes the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), DS's most high profile branch. DS personnel work together as a team to ensure that the State Department can carry out its foreign policy missions safely and securely. Diplomatic Security has a broad scope of global responsibilities, with protection of people, information, and property as its top priority.

Overseas, DS develops and implements effective security programs to safeguard all personnel who work in every U.S. diplomatic mission around the world and to protect classified information at these locations. The DS presence overseas is led at each post (embassy) by a DSS Special Agent who is referred to as a Regional Security Officer, or more commonly as the RSO. In the United States, DS protects the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and foreign diplomats who visit the United States. DS has protected Yaser Arafat, the Dalai Lama and Prince Charles. The agency develops and implements security programs to protect the more than 100 domestic State Department facilities as well as the residence of the Secretary of State.

DS is headed by an Assistant Secretary. Under the Assistant Secretary are several Deputy Assistant Secretaries, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary is the Director for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Most, but not all of the special agents within DS report through the DSS director. Plans have been put in place, later to be rescinded, to put all personnel, not only agents under the DSS director, who would continue to report to the DS Assistant Secretary.

In matters of criminal investigation, DS is the lead agency in the U.S. for cases of international terrorism. DS personnel and Special Agents conduct personnel security investigations, issue security clearances and conduct criminal investigations involving visa and passport fraud. DS also assists foreign embassies and consulates in the United States with the security for their missions and personnel.

Since 1984, DS has administered the Rewards for Justice Program, which pays monetary rewards of up to $5 million, or in recent years even more, upon special authorization by the Secretary of State, to individuals who provide information which substantially leads to countering of terrorist attacks against United States persons. Through 2001, $62 million had been paid to over 40 people in this effort.

DS employs a number of Security Engineering Officers (SEOs). SEOs ensure the technical security at State Department facilities, particularly overseas at U.S. Embassies. SEOs typically have degrees in mechanical or electrical engineering and are known for their expertise.