Keynote Address at the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) 24th Annual Briefing

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Dean Acheson Auditorium

Washington, DC

November 18, 2009

Via Video Message

I am pleased to address you this morning at the Overseas Security Advisory Council’s 24^th annual briefing.

OSAC plays a major role in protecting the U.S. private sector overseas against terrorism and other threats by sharing information, providing guidance, and promoting best practices. Their worldwide network helps to identify, track, and alert members to critical emerging issues and to provide risk management guidance.

These practices are driven entirely by you, people from the private sector and NGOs. And I urge you to take advantage of all OSAC has to offer, including the conference and events it hosts every year to provide guidance on travel safety and risk assessment, which are essential to keeping our citizens safe abroad.

I am delighted that such a close, flourishing relationship between our nation’s governments and businesses has lasted all these years. And I hope you will join me and OSAC as partners as we work to protect and strengthen America’s public and private sectors in the years to come.

Thank you for all you do and best wishes for a productive briefing.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Speak by Video Message at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Overseas Security Advisory Council

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

November 16, 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will speak by video message at the 24^th annual meeting of the Overseas Security Advisory Council on Wednesday, November 18th, in the Dean Acheson Auditorium of the Harry S Truman Building of the U.S. Department of State.

Established by Secretary Shultz in 1985, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) is a public/private partnership to foster cooperation and the exchange of security information between the U.S. Government and the U.S. private sector operating overseas. Currently, more than 6,700 constituent organizations participate in OSAC including businesses, religious groups, universities and colleges, and other non-governmental organizations.

The Conference will run from November 17-19. In addition to Secretary Clinton, other speakers include InterAction President and Chief Executive Operator Sam Worthington and Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Eric Boswell.

The event is Wednesday morning, November 18 for open press coverage and will focus on “Confronting Global Risks.”

Pre-set time for cameras: 7:45 a.m. from the 23^rd Street entrance.
Final access time for all press: 8:15 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this briefing upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport).

Press Contact:
Sarah Rosetti
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
(571) 345-2507
(202) 230-2842

Special Agent Fred Ketchem Honored as 2008 DS Employee of the Year

Washington, DC

November 13, 2009

DS Special Agent Fred Ketchem was named the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security 2008 Employee of the Year.

At a November 5 ceremony at the Harry S Truman Building, Under Secretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns presented Ketchem with a certificate signed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He also received a monetary award of $10,000.

The award was given to Ketchem for his superior achievements as senior deputy regional security officer during his tour of duty at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

From March 2008 to January 2009, Ketchem helped manage all security programs and investigations on behalf of the U.S. Department of State in Baghdad — site of the largest U.S. Embassy in the world. Ketchem supervised a security staff of nearly 3,500 employees — including more than 80 Diplomatic Security Special Agents — and oversaw a budget of almost one billion dollars.

He frequently briefed officials at the highest levels of the U.S. Government on complex security issues, liaised with foreign security representatives, and made life-saving improvements at Embassy Baghdad and the Regional Embassy Offices in Basrah, Erbil, Hillah, and Tallil.

Ketchem showed tremendous leadership and courage under fire in a war zone beset by more than 26,000 attacks during his tenure. In fact, soon after his arrival, the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad experienced its most intense period of sustained rocket attacks to date.

Beginning Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, the International Zone (IZ) in central Baghdad where the U.S. Embassy is located was hit by a rocket barrage that marked the beginning of more than three weeks of sustained attacks. Over one 8-day period in late March 2008, insurgents launched more than 100 rockets against the IZ.

Rockets struck the U.S. Embassy, Chief of Mission trailers and living quarters, the U.S. helicopter and vehicle fleet, and several other U.S. facilities. Tragically, five people were killed, including two Chief of Mission (COM) staff, and 39 were wounded. It was the deadliest and costliest rocket bombardment in the history of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Despite the danger, Ketchem and his colleagues from the Baghdad Regional Security Office went to the scene of rocket impacts to search for victims and aid their colleagues during 56 separate rocket attacks. For their selfless actions under heavy fire, Ketchem and members of the RSO Baghdad team received the Department of State’s 2008 Award for Heroism.

Ketchem’s manager in Baghdad, Senior Regional Security Officer Mark Hipp, said, “The level of protection maintained by Special Agent Ketchem and his team is a testament to his superior management of our security programs. It’s particularly noteworthy given the Embassy staff’s exposure to rockets, improvised explosive devices, small arms fire, grenades, and surface to air missiles.”

After receiving his DS Employee of the Year award, Ketchem, who currently is the Special Agent in Charge of Secretary Clinton’s protective detail, was invited to the secretary’s office with family members where Secretary Clinton personally thanked him for his service and congratulated him on his latest honor.

“I was fortunate to be a vital member of a critical U.S. foreign policy initiative. Under the leadership of the Senior Regional Security Officer, my team had the unique opportunity to make decisions we believe helped to save lives. I witnessed heroism from our agents, and it was an honor for me to lead this team,” Ketchem said after the awards presentation.

The “DS Employee of the Year” award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions by an employee in the security field.

State Dept Image/Nov 05, 2009/Washington, D.C.
(Left to Right) Fred Ketchem Sr., Special Agent Fred Ketchem, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Shareen Ketchem after the awards ceremony. U.S. Department of State Photo.