One year ago, DSS special agents led the suspension of operations at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan. Working with U.S. military entities and other partners, DSS ensured that U.S. diplomats and their families withdrew safely from the country. In this three-part series, a variety of DSS personnel discuss how they supported the evacuation of Khartoum in 2023. In episode 3, hear from a DSS special agent who supported evacuation efforts of U.S. citizens from Khartoum during the 2023 upheaval.

One year ago, DSS special agents led the suspension of operations at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan. Working with U.S. military entities and other partners, DSS ensured that U.S. diplomats and their families withdrew safely from the country. In this three-part series, a variety of DSS personnel discuss how they supported the evacuation of Khartoum in 2023. In episode 2, a DSS special agent serving as an assistant regional security officer describes his daring expeditions throughout...

One year ago, DSS special agents led the suspension of operations at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan. Working with U.S. military entities and other partners, DSS ensured that U.S. diplomats and their families withdrew safely from the country. In this three-part series, a variety of DSS personnel discuss how they supported the evacuation of Khartoum in 2023. In episode 1, you will hear from two DSS special agents and a DSS security technical specialist who were pivotal in the withdrawal.

In this final episode of Season 1, Assistant Secretary of Diplomatic Security Gentry Smith discusses his 30-plus years with DSS, from serving twice at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to working on the protective detail of three secretaries of State. Listen as he describes being caught in a standoff between protestors and the Burmese military, responding to the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole, and other events that helped prepare him for his leadership roles.

In this episode of DSS: After Action, Scott Brawner, founder of Concilium, Inc., discusses how his group and other faith-based organizations leverage the power of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) when threats or crises arise overseas. Hear how he and other OSAC members working in Chad provided crucial updates to DSS during a coup attempt in 2021 and in Guatemala during a crisis.

In the concluding episode of "Operation Cinderella Story: Dismantling an International Crime Network," Special Agent Chris Swenson takes us deeper into the heart of the investigation. Swenson explains the major players involved in the international scheme and how they built upon the initial evidence seized to build a larger case that included a clientele "blacklist," electronic evidence, and wealthy business "backers."   Learn how Swenson and his team meticulously built their case, leading...

Join Special Agent Chris Swenson in the first part of this two-part series, as he delves into one of DSS' largest, and most complex cases: Operation Cinderella Story. In collaboration with officials from the Republic of Korea and various U.S. law enforcement agencies, Swenson and his team investigated and dismantled an international money laundering network.    Get an insider's view on how DSS built this case using out-of-the-box investigative strategies.

In this After Action episode, we sit down with retired DSS special agent, Paul Davies, who served as the senior agent and security advisor at the U.S. Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, during the harrowing attacks on September 13, 2013. The consulate was the target of an attack by Taliban-affiliated insurgents, using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.     The interview provides a glimpse into the intense firefight and how our security forces engaged the terrorists and saved the...

In this episode, Supervisory Special Agent Kareem Parson recalls the last few days on the ground in Caracas before the U.S. mission to Venezuela was ordered back to the United States. Parson describes the work DSS performed in those final weeks and what it takes to securely close an embassy.

Imagine being a U.S. diplomat posted in Moscow during the Cold War. With the constant threat of planted bugs, spies, and clandestine meetings, DSS personnel worked overtime to secure U.S. embassies and consulates. Security Engineering Officer Larry Doggett describes what it was like working under these conditions at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in the 1980s and early '90s.

Ever wonder what it takes to keep America’s chief diplomat safe? In this episode, Special Agents Karen Brown Cleveland and Lawrence Casselle discuss their experiences serving on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s protective detail. Learn more about the places they traveled to, what “advancing” a Secretary-level trip entails, and what it takes to work in this high-profile position.

A DSS special agent delves into his fascinating investigation of Anthony Gignac, a masterful conman whose risky schemes included impersonating Saudi and Emirati princes. In this After Action podcast episode, we uncover how Gignac used his fake royal persona to orchestrate an international fraud scheme and accumulate immense wealth. Discover the intricate web of deception he spun as he acquired luxurious vehicles, exquisite jewelry, and fashionable accessories worth millions. Learn how DSS...

Welcome back to After Action: True Stories of the Diplomatic Security Service. In this second episode, we get to hear from DSS Director Carlos Matus as he recalls some historic moments of his career, and “rites of passage” for many DSS agents. From protecting some of the most notable Secretaries of State and serving at high-threat diplomatic posts to a nearly fatal event in Latin America, his experiences, missions, and remarkable undertakings are stories you don’t want to miss.

Supervisory Special Agent Kala Bokelman has investigated dozens of criminals operating on a global scale. One of her most complex and demanding investigations involved a photographer who used his legitimate business to sexually exploit children as young as eight years old. Hear how Kala worked with Costa Rican law enforcement and judicial officials to investigate and ultimately convict those involved in this heinous crime.