About Diplomatic Security

 "I know that every day the men and women of Diplomatic Security are on the front lines of protecting our people and protecting our facilities..." -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, quoted in Diplomatic Security: Mission Critical, Year in Review 2005.

As the Department of State's security and law enforcement arm, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security does not formulate foreign policy. It plays another essential yet behind-the-scenes role: To provide a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Not only is Diplomatic Security a unique organization in the foreign affairs community--it is the only law enforcement agency with representation in nearly every country in the world.

An overview offers a glance at how this myriad of programs come together to fulfill its mission and form an effective and coordinated security organization.

To understand the environment in which Diplomatic Security operates today, it is helpful to understand the events that shaped its creation. A Brief History offers a look back.