Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Secret Service formally celebrated the swearing-in of the agency’s 27th Director, Kimberly Cheatle. Director Cheatle was previously sworn in September 18th and immediately assumed her leadership role ahead of operational requirements related to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II as well as the 77th U.N. General Assembly.
Director Cheatle addressed the workforce in brief remarks during the ceremony: “Being asked to lead this remarkable agency is truly humbling. Our mission is critical – protecting our democracy and safeguarding the integrity of our financial infrastructure. We are tasked with a mandate that’s difficult, dangerous, and most often in the public view and we carry it out together – quietly and efficiently, in the background of history. We share a passion for our mission, and it is that shared bond that makes our entire organization stronger and more resilient.”
Director Cheatle previously served with distinction for 27 years in the Secret Service, most recently as Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations. In this position, Director Cheatle managed a $133.5M budget and collaborated with ten operational divisions and the Technical Security Division to research, develop and deploy technologies that reduce risks to protectees, protected facilities and protected events.
Prior to serving as Assistant Director, Cheatle served as the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office, providing oversight for all mission-related investigations, protective intelligence and protective visits in the state of Georgia. Director Cheatle was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in February 2016 as the Special Agent in Charge of the James J. Rowley Training Center. There she directed and coordinated all aspects of training and career development for the organization, later serving as the Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Training.
Prior to her SES appointment, Director Cheatle was the Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy, where she developed and deployed an innovative web-based communication platform designed to promote open and transparent communication within the organization. Prior to her appointment as Director, she served as Senior Director of Global Security at PepsiCo, where she was responsible for directing and implementing security protocols for the company's facilities in North America.