Special Agent - United States Secret Service

Protective MissionThe U.S. Secret Service has a long history ofensuring the safety of the nation’s leaders andvisiting foreign dignitaries. To accomplish thismission, the U.S. Secret Service develops andutilizes preventative strategies, includinginvestigating threats made against protectees,implementing innovative threat assessmenttechniques and utilizing advanced protectivemethodologies.Since the U.S. Secret Service’s protective missionwas first mandated in 1901, the agency’sjurisdiction has expanded to meet the needs ofan evolving security environment. Today, the U.S.Secret Service is legally authorized to protect:• The President andVice President of theUnited States, and their immediate families• Major presidential and vice presidentialcandidates, as well as their spouses• Visiting foreign heads of state and theirspouses• Former presidents, their spouses, and theirminor children under the age of 16. In 1997,Congress authorized legislation limitingprotection of former presidents to 10 yearsafter leaving office, making President Clintonthe last president who will receive lifetimeSecret Service protection• Events designated as National SpecialSecurity Events by the Department ofHomeland Security