Cornell Chasten, Jr., a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is currently serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director for the International Programs Directorate, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Mr. Chasten oversees security and law enforcement policy and programs for more than 270 U.S. diplomatic posts overseas. He is responsible for more than $2 billion in resources, personnel, and budgets to facilitate the safe and successful conduct of U.S. diplomacy.
Mr. Chasten was previously Director of the Office of Domestic Facilities Protection, Domestic Operations Directorate; Director of the Office of Special Programs and Coordination, International Programs Directorate; and Deputy Executive Director, Overseas Security Advisory Council. He was also Special Agent in Charge of the DSS Chicago Field Office, overseeing regional protective security operations, as well as passport and visa fraud investigations.
Mr. Chasten has completed multiple tours at overseas posts including Abu Dhabi, Jerusalem, and Beirut. He also completed two tours at U.S. Embassy Baghdad that included one year as the Senior Deputy Regional Security Officer in charge of 1,600 security personnel assigned to the mission.
Mr. Chasten has a Bachelor of Science degree from Fayetteville State University and completed both the International Security Management Association’s Advanced Leadership course at Georgetown University and the International Security Management Association’s Leadership Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.