The Diplomatic Security Service is a unique organization in the Federal law enforcement community: DS Special Agents work in all 50 states and nearly every Embassy and Consulate around the world. DS’s broad global responsibilities are focused on protecting US Government personnel, information, and property.
When assigned overseas, DS agents are known as Regional Security Officers. The RSO is the Embassy’s senior US law enforcement official and advisor to the Ambassador on security matters. RSOs often work with other US federal, state and local law enforcement agencies when their criminal investigations take on an international dimension and maintain close working relationships with host country security and law enforcement entities.
If you have information on security or criminal matters that would be of interest to the Embassy (such as locally generated or organized threats to the Embassy or its personnel, or the illegal issuance, use, or manufacture of passports or visas), please send an e-mail to rsosuva@state.gov.
When assigned to a Field Office in the United States, DS Special Agents enforce the laws of the United States pertaining to the illegal issuance, use, or manufacture of passports and visas, as well as assisting foreign embassies and consulates in the United States with the security for their missions and personnel. DS agents also protect the Secretary of State, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, and foreign dignitaries below the head-of-state level who visit the United States. On the average, DS participates in more than 150 foreign and domestic dignitary details each year, protecting such diverse individuals as the Secretary General of NATO, Yasser Arafat, and special guests such as the Dalai Lama.
The Rewards for Justice Program has been an effective tool in the fight against international terrorism. The Program has paid more than $57 million dollars for information that prevented international terrorist attacks or helped bring to justice those involved in prior acts. If you have information regarding terrorism, please see the DS-sponsored Rewards for Justice homepage to learn if you may be eligible to receive up to a US $25,000,000 reward for information that prevents or frustrates an act of international terrorism against US interests worldwide, or leads to the arrest or capture of wanted terrorists.
The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was established in 1985 by the U.S. Department of State to foster the exchange of security related information between the U.S. Government and American private sector operating abroad. Administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture for effective security cooperation. Through OSAC, the American private sector, including colleges and universities, is provided timely information on which to make informed corporate decisions on how best to protect their investment, facilities, personnel and intellectual property abroad. Please see the OSAC website for more details.
Although Fiji does not currently have an OSAC country council established, U.S. affiliated firms are welcome to contact the Regional Security Officer with questions or comments about the security environment in Fiji, or their firm’s security problems or posture. Send an e-mail to rsosuva@state.gov.