In the United States, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) provides protective security details for the U.S. Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and certain visiting foreign dignitaries. Additionally, DSS assists foreign diplomatic missions in the United States on all security-related matters.
Overseas, regional security officers advise ambassadors or chiefs of mission and develop security programs to protect embassy and consulate personnel.
![U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo participates in a bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Brussels, Belgium on July 12, 2018. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/43457590880_d1bbc66f01_k.jpg)
Secretary of State’s Protective Detail
DSS provides security for the U.S. Secretary of State seven days a week, 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world. Working closely with other offices in the Department of State, and other federal, state, local, and foreign security and law enforcement organizations, the protective detail ensures that the Secretary of State is able to conduct U.S. diplomacy safely and securely. [Read More]
Dignitary Protection
DSS coordinates all aspects of protective security details for certain foreign dignitaries who visit the United States (approximately 150 each year), and has provided security to foreign ministers, former heads of state, members of the British royal family, the Secretary Generals of the United Nations and NATO, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. [Read More]
Regional Security Officers
DSS special agents, assigned to U.S. diplomatic missions overseas as regional security officers (RSOs), serve as law enforcement and security advisors to chiefs of mission and coordinate all aspects of mission security programs. The RSO is the senior federal law enforcement officer at diplomatic missions overseas.
RSOs develop security programs to protect mission personnel from terrorist, criminal, and other types of attacks, both at work and at home. [Read More]
Protective Liaison Division
DSS provides security assistance and guidance to foreign embassies, consulates, and other international organizations that have diplomatic representatives in the United States. Through its close working relationships with foreign mission security officials, and federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, DSS can respond quickly and effectively to security-related problems, questions, and concerns of the foreign diplomatic community.