State Dept Image/Oct 24, 2009/Islamabad, Pakistan ![]() |
| A Marine Security Guard at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad monitors a radio transmission inside Post 1, the embassy’s communications hub, October 24, 2009. In addition to helping protect lives and classified government information, Marine Security Guards staff Post 1 communications centers at U.S. embassies worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week. U.S. Department of State Photo. |
The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is the security and law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State. DS is a world leader in international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security, counterterrorism, security technology, and protection of people, property, and information.
Led by Eric J. Boswell, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy.
Every diplomatic mission in the world operates under a security program designed and maintained by Diplomatic Security. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigates passport and visa fraud, and conducts personnel security investigations.
Operating from a global platform in 25 U.S. cities and 159 foreign countries, DS ensures that America can conduct diplomacy safely and securely. DS plays a vital role in protecting U.S. embassies and personnel overseas, securing critical information systems, investigating passport and visa fraud, and fighting the war on terror.
Diplomatic Security 2008 Annual Report Now Available

Learn more about the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in the 2008 DS Year In Review, now available online.
| DS and IRM Honored with NSA's Highest Info Assurance Award The National Security Agency (NSA) has awarded its most prestigious award for information assurance within the federal government to the U.S. Department of State’s bureaus of Information Resource Management (IRM) and Diplomatic Security (DS). |
NGO Security Highlighted at Overseas Security Advisory Council Annual Conference Sam Worthington, president and CEO of InterAction, a coalition of 180 U.S.–based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), discusses NGO overseas security issues during his address to the Overseas Security Advisory Council at U.S. Department of State headquarters, November 18, 2009. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also addressed the more than 800 attendees via a pre-recorded video message. |
Special Agent Fred Ketchem Honored as 2008 DS Employee of the Year Fred Ketchem, special agent in charge of the Secretary of State's protective detail, is honored as the 2008 DS Employee of the Year for his service in Iraq. |
DS Seeks Security Engineer Candidates Diplomatic Security is seeking candidates for the position of Security Engineering Officer. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to read the vacancy announcement prior to submitting their application. |
DS Accepting Applications for Security Technical Specialist |
DS History Photos |
Violence Against Americans Report Available Diplomatic Security has released the 2008 edition of Political Violence Against Americans, produced by the Bureau’s Directorate of Threat Investigations and Analysis. |
DS News Available Automatically
You may now receive Diplomatic Security news, press releases, and other DS content posted to this Web site directly in your e-mail box! Simply click on the link below to subscribe to our information delivery service.
The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.