The Secret Service was created in July 1865 as a bureau of the Department of the Treasury. At that time, approximately one-third of all currency in circulation was counterfeit, which posed a serious threat to the nation's economy. President Abraham Lincoln recognized the seriousness of the problem and created the Secret Service to investigate and suppress counterfeiting of U.S. currency. The increased size and complexity of the nation's monetary system have greatly expanded the Secret Service's investigative responsibilities.
Today, the Secret Service investigates any offense against the nation's currency, obligations, or securities. This includes: counterfeiting of currency; theft or forgery of U.S. Government checks, bonds, and other Government obligations; fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents and food stamps; fraud involving credit and debit cards and telecommunications; fraud associated with the electronic funds transfer system of the U.S. Treasury; and, financial institution fraud. Many of the financial crimes the Secret Service investigates today, such as telecommunications and telemarketing fraud, reflect the complex and highly technical nature of this nation's economy.
After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. This duty continues to be the primary responsibility of the Secret Service. The number of people authorized Secret Service protection has increased significantly from the original mandate. The Secret Service provides protection for: the President, Vice President, and their immediate families; the President-elect, Vice President-elect, and members of their immediate families; visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their spouses; former Presidents, their spouses and minor children; major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates; and others at the direction of the President. In addition, the Secret Service is responsible for providing security for the White House Complex and any building in which Presidential offices are located; the Main Treasury Building and Annex, the official residence of the Vice President in Washington, D.C., and, approximately 450 foreign diplomatic missions in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and others throughout the United States.
The professional, administrative, and technical positions provide direct and indirect support to missions of the Secret Service by analyzing intelligence data, maintaining database software data security, providing legal advice pertaining to asset forfeiture, and installing state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment to remote and Service-wide sites. Listed below is a sampling of professional, administrative, and technical positions available to applicants.
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS involve work which requires knowledge in a field of science or learning that is characteristically acquired through education or training equivalent to a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in a specialized field. The work of a professional occupation requires an individual to exercise discretion and judgment in applying a scholarly body of knowledge to various subject matters. The use of these skills results in important new discoveries and highly technical interpretations being made as well as the development of improved data, materials, techniques, and procedures to obtain desired results.
Professional positions include:
Accountant
Architect
Attorney
Chemist
Civil Engineer
Electronic Engineer
Nurse Consultant
Operations Research Analyst
Research Psychologist
Social Worker
ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS involve the application of a substantial body of knowledge of principles, concepts, and practices applicable to one or more fields of administration or management. Although the positions do not require a specialized educational background, they do involve analytical, research, writing, and judgmental skills and abilities. These skills are usually acquired through a general college education or through progressively responsible experience.
Administrative positions include:
Budget Analyst
Computer Specialist
Contract Specialist
Criminal Research Specialist
Document Analyst
Facilities Management Analyst
Fingerprint Specialist
Intelligence Research Specialist
Management Analyst
Personnel Management Specialist
Physical Security Specialist
Procurement Analyst
Telecommunications Specialist
Writer/Editor
TECHNICAL POSITIONS are associated with the direct support of a professional or administrative field. The work is generally non-routine in nature and involves extensive practical knowledge which is either gained through on-the-job experience or specific training at a level less than that represented by a college education. Technical positions include:
Accounting Technician
Operations Support Technician
Photographer
Protective Support Technician
All applicants tentatively selected for a position must submit to urinalysis screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Actual appointment will be contingent upon the receipt of a negative drug test result.
All Secret Service positions require top secret security clearances. Some positions require the applicant to take a polygraph examination.
- Retirement
- Life and Health Insurance
- Annual and Sick Leave
- Holiday Pay
- Awards/Promotions
Many excellent career opportunities exist within the Secret Service. Professional, administrative, and technical positions provide employees with an opportunity to obtain a comprehensive knowledge of all facets of the organization.
Submit a completed Application for Federal Employment (Standard Form 171) to: U.S. Secret Service, Personnel Division, Recruitment and Staffing Branch, 1800 G Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20223 (tel.: 202-435-5800).