US SECRET SERVICE: UNSUNG HEROES OF THE 2016 ELECTION

By all accounts, the 2016 presidential election was among the most divisive in modern history. While few came through the campaign unscathed, one group demonstrated a level of professionalism and competence that showed why they are one of the premier law enforcement organizations in the world. The performance of the men and women of the United States Secret Service (USSS) this past year was nearly flawless. In the challenging environment of presidential protection there is no room for error. When you think of all the strong passions of the electorate, the endless campaign events and non-stop travel associated with all the candidates throughout the year, it is amazing what the USSS was able to accomplish. They are truly the unsung heroes of the 2016 election.

During my six-year tenure in senior leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, I had the privilege of working with three of the most recent Secret Service Directors on strengthening the management capabilities of the agency. Through that experience, I met scores of dedicated special agents, uniformed officers and support staff – all committed to their core missions of financial crimes and presidential protection.

While the Secret Service has had a strong year, it is important to recognize that ongoing challenges remain that will require the support of the President-Elect, the Congress and the incoming Secretary of Homeland Security. These include: an ever-evolving threat stream which includes cyber, staffing shortfalls, replacement of legacy technology platforms, morale issues and training.

THE THREAT

In 2013, I travelled with the Secret Service to New York City for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The gathering of approximately 150 world leaders each year provides a unique view into the depth of planning, logistics and execution necessary to protect so many heads of state. It also brings to light how many threats the Secret Service must contend with. When you translate that mission to the Presidential Protective Division (PPD) that protects the Commander in Chief, it is easy to see why USSS is so concerned about the ever-changing threat landscape. One area of particular concern is with technological advancement. Whether is it accessibility to low cost drones that can deliver dangerous payloads or a sophisticated cyber-attack launched by difficult to trace adversaries, the Secret Service will have its hands full with these and other evolving threats.

STAFFING SHORTFALLS

The current staffing profile for the Secret Service is approximately 6,500 Full Time Employees (FTE), which is down from a high of 7,000 just a few years ago. These shortfalls in staffing capability have stretched the Secret Service to the limit. Challenges with staffing have also been cited by the DHS Inspector General as contributing factors to recent high profile security lapses. To his credit, USSS Director Joe Clancy has made restoring staffing levels one of his top priorities. Recognizing that it takes time to reverse this downward trend, Congress needs to support his efforts with sustained budget increases in Fiscal Year 2017 and Fiscal Year 2018.

REPLACEMENT OF OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY

When I arrived at DHS in 2009 after serving as a state CIO, I was shocked at the level of technology in the Secret Service. There was very little connectivity among the 50 plus field offices and the communications systems agents relied on seemed primitive for an organization that relies so heavily on intelligence gathering and information sharing. In recent years, there have been several advancements. An infusion of $400 Million at the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), has provided state of the art communications for the Precedential Protection Division, yet the rest of the Secret Service has lagged. Bringing the other areas of the agency up to date with key technologies will be vital to future success.

MORALE

Morale at the Secret Service has taken a hit in recent years as negative headlines piled up ranging from White House fence jumper response to the personal conduct of a few agents at home and abroad. As you would expect, there is a high level of dedication among employees to the mission, yet long hours and high stress take a very real toll. Staying out of the headlines will help. But other more tangible steps will be needed. One area for attention is to raise the pay cap so senior special agents don’t end up having to work for free after they max out their overtime hours. Another focus area should be more transparency in hiring and promotion decisions.

TRAINING

Nearly seventy five percent of the Secret Service’s $2 Billion budget is spent on personnel costs. In such a human capital-centric organization, constantly updated training is essential. I know the current leadership team is committed to prioritizing additional resources to make sure all special agents and uniformed officers are attaining the same high standards in their protective missions.

CONCLUSION

Whether it has been protecting the Pope, President Obama or the myriad candidates for Commander in Chief this campaign, the Secret Service has proven time and again that they are up for the job. Occasionally, I will see talking heads on cable news, with no affiliation to the agency, bad mouthing their performance. It is easy to be an arm chair quarterback when you have no responsibility for the actual mission of putting your life on the line. While challenges persist at the Secret Service, we should all take a moment to be thankful for the exceptional work of these unsung heroes.

Chris Cummiskey is a former Acting Under Secretary/Deputy Under Secretary for Management at the US Department of Homeland Security and a Senior Fellow at the George Washington University Center for Cyber and Homeland Security.