Tactical Operations Division
 

The Tactical Operations Division (TOD) was established to meet the U.S. Marshal Service’s (USMS) challenges of the 21st Century.  Division personnel manage and respond to national emergencies, and crises involving Homeland Security.   Each year, Deputy United States Marshals and professional staff carry out special missions related to the USMS’ broad federal law enforcement and judicial security responsibilities.

The TOD serves as one point of contact between the Office of the Director, Districts, Headquarters Divisions and other Agencies to coordinate and implement operational matters when the USMS Director authorizes a special law enforcement assignment, a crisis arises, or there is a security mission. It is the TOD that carries out the Director’s orders. The TOD is comprised of the following program areas:  the Office of Crisis Services; the Office of Emergency Management; the Office of Resource Management; the Office of Security Programs; the Office of Strategic Technology; the Special Operations Group, and the Strategic National Stockpile Security Operations.

The Office of Crisis Services (OCS) provides support to individuals affected by crisis or traumatic situations. The OCS manages the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). CIRT provides tangible crisis intervention services and stress management education following critical incidents such as shootings or other types of traumatic incidents. CIRT is composed of volunteer peers who are specially trained and certified in Critical Incident Stress Management, available for immediate deployment in response of critical incidents.  EAP is a confidential, voluntary program designed to help employees and family members resolve problems-whether they occur on or off the job.

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is comprised of the following national program areas:  the USMS Communications Center; Continuity of Government (COG); Continuity of Operations (COOP); Enduring Constitutional Government (ECG); Emergency Operations Center (EOC); Relocation Operations Center (ROC); Explosive Detection Canine Program, and Incident Management Teams. OEM is the primary point of contact for several sensitive and classified missions involving homeland security, national emergencies, domestic crises, and the intelligence community.

The Office of Resource Management (ORM) provides financial and related expertise to TOD management.  ORM manages the business processes of TOD and provides guidance and assistance to TOD staff to ensure program areas meet directives from the TOD Assistant Director.

The Office of Security Programs (OSP) is responsible for the management and coordination of several USMS security programs and plans.  OSP manages and implements the policies and guidelines for communications security, document security, personal identity verification, personnel security, physical security and special deputations. 

The Office of Strategic Technology (OST) provides technical protective support and wireless communications support to USMS missions.  The Technical Protective Operations program employs state of the art technology to enhance USMS protective operations for individuals, locations, and sensitive or classified material.  The Wireless Communications Program ensures the USMS has reliable secure LMR communications capability.  The OST is a leader in modern tactical communications and interoperability, including IP networks, voice over internet protocol, cellular and satellite communications.

The Special Operations Group (SOG) is a specially trained and equipped tactical unit deployed in high-risk/sensitive law enforcement situations, national emergencies, civil disorders, and natural disasters.  SOG is comprised of 80-100 volunteer Deputy U.S. Marshals who must meet higher standards and complete rigorous training in specialties such as high risk entry, explosive breaching, sniper/observer, rural operations, evasive driving, less lethal munitions, waterborne operations and tactical medical support.  They also act as the agency’s primary response force to any critical incident nationally and world-wide as ordered by the Attorney General.

The Strategic National Stockpile Security Operations (SNSSO) assists with securing the nation’s medical countermeasures.  SNSSO was established during 2002 under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  SNSSO has Chief Inspectors stationed in major metropolitan areas that are responsible for Senior Inspectors throughout the country who provide the Division of Strategic National Stockpile (DSNS) with law enforcement protective services for high value and priority medical countermeasures.


Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Marshals Service Pub. No. 21-D
Revised September 2010