United States Secret Service Association

A Message from the USSSA Board on Media Commentary and Professional Responsibility

Thu, 07 May 2026 20:11:52 GMT

A Message from the USSSA Board of Directors

It is no surprise that the Secret Service remains in the news and under intense scrutiny whenever a critical event threatens a protectee. The recent attempt on the life of President Trump has again brought that attention to the forefront.

Following such incidents, media outlets often seek out retired and former Secret Service employees willing to provide commentary and opinions regarding the performance of agents and officers who are literally under fire.

Recently, some highly critical opinions have come from retired and former Secret Service employees. In many cases, these perspectives are grounded in dated experiences, secondhand knowledge, or, in the worst cases, personal grievances related to prior employment with the Service.

Unfortunately, some former USSS employees have launched personal attacks against Director Curran or accused the Secret Service of intentionally trying to get President Trump killed. Other comments have been overwhelmingly negative and have suggested that the agents and officers responsible for protecting President Trump are not competent.

Director Curran has done a commendable job providing facts, correcting misperceptions, and explaining the mission, the circumstances surrounding high-profile incidents, and the effectiveness that comes from lessons learned after every event.

The challenges faced by today’s Secret Service are vastly different and far more complex than those faced in previous decades. Technology and expanded First Amendment protections, particularly on social media, permit almost anything to be said in the form of a subtle threat, dramatically changing the threat environment.

The Board of the United States Secret Service Association asks members, retired and former USSS employees who are non-members, and others who may be asked to provide commentary, opinions, or critiques regarding the Secret Service mission to think carefully before accepting or soliciting such opportunities.

If you are contacted by print media or invited to appear on camera, podcasts, or radio broadcasts, we strongly encourage you to first contact the Office of Communications and Media Relations (CMR) to discuss the request. In some cases, it may be appropriate to refer the inquiry directly to CMR. At a minimum, you may receive guidance that helps ensure accurate and informed public statements.

The Association was not established to police the behavior of its members. However, we will not hesitate to address misperceptions and reckless commentary shared by members or former employees.

Your feedback is welcome, and we thank all of you for continuing to conduct yourselves professionally.

The Board of the United States Secret Service Association

Vigilance in Action: A Potential Threat Stopped Preview

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:00:48 GMT

A Message from the President

Once again, the men and women of the United States Secret Service were called upon to meet an extraordinary moment — and once again, they delivered.

On Saturday night, during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, our personnel demonstrated the vigilance, professionalism, and decisive action that define this agency. Faced with a potential threat, Secret Service agents, Uniformed Division officers, and our law enforcement partners responded immediately and effectively, preventing what could have been a horrific event.

On behalf of the United States Secret Service Association, I commend all those involved for their swift and courageous actions. Their performance is a powerful reminder that the mission to protect the President, the Vice President, and their families is carried out every day with steadfast focus — often without recognition, but always with excellence.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to our law enforcement partners, whose coordination and support remain essential to the success of this mission. As noted by Director Sean M. Curran, this incident underscores the strength of the Service’s multi-layered protective approach and the critical role of partnership in securing these environments.

Our thoughts are especially with the Uniformed Division officer who was injured in the line of duty. We wish him a full and speedy recovery and stand firmly in support of him and his family.

Deputy Director Matthew Quinn rightly noted that this act was an attempt to create a national tragedy — one that was stopped at first contact due to the strength, preparedness, and resolve of our personnel. That outcome is no accident; it is the result of relentless training, teamwork, and a deep commitment to mission.

We are proud of the men and women who serve, and we remain grateful for their continued dedication to safeguarding our nation’s leaders and institutions.

ERA Store – Now Hiring

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:58:00 GMT

Store Manager
USSS HQ – Washington, DC
$20.00 to $25.00/hr.

The United States Secret Service (USSS) Employee Recreation Association (ERA) is incorporated as a not-for-profit 501c (4) organization for the benefit of all USSS employees. Its mission is to promote the general welfare of employees of the USSS by providing, encouraging, and supporting social, educational, and recreational activities of interest to its members. The net earnings of the Association are devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, and recreational activities.

Job Summary: We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Headquarters Store Manager to join our team. The Headquarters Store Manager oversees the complete operations of the ERA Store located at 950 H St. Responsibilities include managing inventory, in-store sales and occasional special events.

Please email cover letter, resume and references or questions to jobs@usssera.org .

Previous retail experience desired but not required
This is a Part-Time Position: Tuesday – Thursday, 8:00a – 4:00p
Attractive compensation package ( does not include health benefits )

New USSSA Membership Benefit!

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:59:00 GMT

A USCCA® Membership is now available as an exclusive benefit for USSSA members.

Join over 855,000 responsibly armed Americans who trust the USCCA® for proven self-defense education, a real-world training system, and self-defense liability insurance.

Now, as a benefit of your USSSA membership, you can access Elite-Level USCCA® Membership benefits at a deeply discounted rate.

Learn More

The *KISS Guide to DC Retirement’s Office of Pay and Retirement Services

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:14:00 GMT

**Keep It Simple Stupid

From Pipeline Editor Jim O’Neill:
One of our members asked me if I knew how he could confirm he still had approximately 25% of his base pay at time of retirement from USSS in residual Basic FEGLI life insurance that his spouse would receive upon his death. Coincidentally, I had recently tried to confirm this for myself and received conflicting answers from OPM and DC Retirement’s Office of Pay and Retirement Services (OPRS).

After I spoke at some length with OPRS’s Kobie Brooks and Rorie Mason, I learned that the FEGLI information is available online from their webpage at fpp.dc.gov under the Benefits tab after you log on. I typically access this site in early February each year to print my 1099-R and again in late February to see what the annual increase in the monthly annuity will be in March. Since users must change their password every 60 days, I always need to call OPRS in January to get a temporary password issued. So Kobie gave me a temporary password to access this webpage and I confirmed that I did have the 25% FEGLI insurance described above.

During these phone conversations, I also asked how I could determine the monthly annuity benefit for my wife should I predecease her. I had always understood that benefit to be approximately 40% of my current annuity; Rorie explained that this is not the case. Rather, the benefit is 40% of my base pay at retirement subject to monthly increases determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for each month that I live following my retirement. (The next day, I received the calculations from OPRS regarding my wife’s survivor annuity.) She also explained how to contact the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) if I want to confirm beneficiary information on my FEGLI account.

Rorie provided the attached document that you can use as a guide in addressing all of the above topics with OPRS in a very timely manner:

FEGLI & Survivor Benefits Information

A Reflection on the Clinton J. Hill Memorial Service April 8, 2025

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:48:00 GMT

Beneath the soaring arches of the Washington National Cathedral, we said goodbye to a legend. Clint Hill was more than a witness to history—he shaped it. Sixty years ago, in Dallas, when an assassin’s bullets shattered the calm, it was Hill who ran toward danger. With only instinct and duty as his armor, he leapt onto the limousine to shield President and Mrs. Kennedy. He couldn’t save the President—but his courage became the gold standard of service.

We gathered not just to honor a man, but a moment—a legacy of sacrifice that echoes through generations. Among those paying tribute were hundreds of former and current U.S. Secret Service agents and officers, some who stood post beside Hill, others who followed in the path he carved with blood, grit, and selflessness.

There was something deeply symbolic about the timing. Just nine months ago, in Butler, Pennsylvania, the current Director of the Secret Service, Sean Curran, ran into gunfire to shield President Trump—an echo of Hill’s leap in 1963. Different cities. Different protectees. Same DNA.

Clint Hill’s codename was “Dazzle.” How fitting—he lit the way for all of us who followed. And he did so with humility, humor, and humanity. His signature cocktail, “The Clint,” was strong, simple, and unforgettable—just like the man himself. The job has always demanded more than most can give. It still does. But because Clint Hill ran toward danger that day, we’ve never doubted our purpose.

We are the stewards of continuity. We don’t just protect people—we protect the peaceful transfer of power, the dignity of democracy, and the idea that some things are still worth running toward.

— Written by ASAIC Paul Eckloff (ret.) 1998-2020

Legendary Secret Service Agent and Best-Selling Author Clint Hill Passes Away at 93

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

Clinton J. “Clint” Hill , 93, renowned Secret Service agent and bestselling author, passed away peacefully at home in Belvedere, California, on February 21 with his beloved wife, Lisa McCubbin Hill, by his side. Hill’s heroism on November 22, 1963, during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, made him a symbol of courage and a revered icon in the Secret Service.

Born January 4, 1932, in Larimore, North Dakota, Hill was adopted as an infant by Chris and Jennie Hill and raised in Washburn. After graduating from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, Hill served in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps before embarking on a distinguished career with the United States Secret Service. Sworn in as a special agent in the Denver field office in 1958, Hill served under five U.S. presidents—Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford—rising to become the Assistant Director of Protective Operations, responsible for all protective forces. Hill’s defining moment came in Dallas, Texas, when he courageously leaped onto the back of the presidential limousine amid gunfire, shielding First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with his body. Hill received the Treasury Department’s highest civilian award for bravery for his swift and selfless actions that day.

Over two decades of service, Hill’s professionalism and steadfast commitment to duty cemented his reputation. His time at the White House spanned the Cold War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy; the civil rights movement, riots and burning of major U.S. cities; the Vietnam War; Watergate; and the resignations of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew and President Richard M. Nixon.

In a now iconic interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes shortly after his retirement in 1975, Hill revealed that he was forced to retire from the job he loved at age 43 because of physical and emotional issues that stemmed from what is now commonly known as PTSD.

After suffering for decades, Hill met journalist Lisa McCubbin in 2009 and credits her with reviving his life. They fell in love while collaborating on Hill’s memoir Mrs. Kennedy and Me , which became a #1 New York Times bestseller, and they married in 2021.

The couple followed with three more New York Times best-selling books: Five Days in November , Five Presidents , and My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy . Their works provide an intimate perspective, through the eyes of an everyman, on pivotal moments in American history.

“Clint Hill was more than a hero—he was a man of profound humility, dedication, and unwavering integrity,” said his longtime friend and former U.S. Secret Service Director Lew Merletti. “Beyond the remarkable courage he displayed in 1963, he embodied our code to be ‘Worthy of Trust and Confidence,’ setting an extraordinary standard of leadership and providing inspiration for generations to come.”

Hill is survived by his wife, Lisa McCubbin Hill, sons Chris Hill (wife Shirley) and Corey Hill, five grandchildren, and two step-grandsons. He will be remembered not only for his heroic actions but also for his kindness, humility, and quick sense of humor.

A private funeral service will be held in Washington, DC, on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the United States Secret Service Association at https://secure.secretserviceassociation.org/forms/donate .

WATCH NOW: U.S. Secret Service launches recruiting campaign at Super Bowl LIX

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:48:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Secret Service kicked off a new recruiting campaign with a public service announcement that was played at Super Bowl LIX.

120 Years of Securing the Presidential Inauguration

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:22:00 GMT

The U.S. Secret Service has safeguarded Presidential Inaugurations for 120 years. This year’s event is unique—not only was it the 60th Presidential Inauguration, but it was also the largest National Special Security Event in U.S. history. In addition to the extensive coordination and resources required for an event of this scale, adjustments were made for everyone’s safety due to inclement weather, highlighting the dynamic challenges of what it takes to safeguard history.

From USSSA’s Private LinkedIn Group

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:03:00 GMT

Posted by
Anthony Guglielmi , Chief of Communications for the United States Secret Service

As our teams put in 15-hour days to prepare for and safeguard the Inauguration, we’re collaborating with local and national outlets to highlight the dedication and professionalism of the men and women of the Secret Service and the thousands of federal, state and local law enforcement, public safety and military partners who help us get the job done. Here’s a recap of recent pre-Inauguration security coverage.

NBC News
https://lnkd.in/eVfSRDjR

NBC Washington
https://lnkd.in/eWMVXW6i

CBS News
https://lnkd.in/etvJ6JGj

USSS ERA 2025 Inaugural Badge

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:09:00 GMT

ORDER

REPLAY: National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) offers an encore presentation sharing guidance for state and local law enforcement to prevent targeted violence.

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:05:00 GMT

SAIC McCool Inauguration Press Conference RECAP

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:37:00 GMT

The upcoming inauguration will mark an unprecedented third National Special Security Event in a 14-day span. The NSSE designation allows the federal government, along with our state and local partners, to use a full complement of resources to implement a comprehensive security plan. The Secret Service authors this security plan and coordinates assets with many public safety partners.

The majority of NSSEs are held in or around Washington, D.C., meaning all responsible parties know what needs to happen. Regular training, constant communication, and the frequency of these events put us in a position to succeed.

Thousands of special guests and dignitaries, hundreds of thousands of ticketed attendees on the Capitol grounds and the public gathering at the nearby National Mall will watch the peaceful transition of power. All attendees will undergo screening.

Designated checkpoints will be set up for members of the public interested in attending the inauguration. A map of the perimeter, showing the locations of all checkpoints, will be available online at www.inauguration.dc.gov. The website will also provide information about parking, road closures, and other impacts.

The Secret Service will bring in agents and other specialists from field offices across the country to provide a full slate of visible and invisible security measures. We work side-by-side with our partners throughout this process. Everyone plays an equal part.

This busy period of NSSEs also coincided with several notable winter weather events. The resolve of the Secret Service and our partners has never been stronger. An all-star team is working to keep everyone safe while minimizing disruptions to the public as much as possible.

Full Press Conference Link: https://lnkd.in/g22XG8a3