In this After Action episode, we sit down with retired DSS special agent, Paul Davies, who served as the senior agent and security advisor at the U.S. Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, during the harrowing attacks on September 13, 2013. The consulate was the target of an attack by Taliban-affiliated insurgents, using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. 

The interview provides a glimpse into the intense firefight and how our security forces engaged the terrorists and saved the lives of as many people as possible. 

Join us as we delve into Davies personal experiences from that day and the challenges he and his team faced defending diplomacy in a combat zone. 

In this episode, Supervisory Special Agent Kareem Parson recalls the last few days on the ground in Caracas before the U.S. mission to Venezuela was ordered back to the United States. Parson describes the work DSS performed in those final weeks and what it takes to securely close an embassy.

Imagine being a U.S. diplomat posted in Moscow during the Cold War. With the constant threat of planted bugs, spies, and clandestine meetings, DSS personnel worked overtime to secure U.S. embassies and consulates. Security Engineering Officer Larry Doggett describes what it was like working under these conditions at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in the 1980s and early '90s.

Ever wonder what it takes to keep America’s chief diplomat safe? In this episode, Special Agents Karen Brown Cleveland and Lawrence Casselle discuss their experiences serving on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s protective detail. Learn more about the places they traveled to, what “advancing” a Secretary-level trip entails, and what it takes to work in this high-profile position.

A DSS special agent delves into his fascinating investigation of Anthony Gignac, a masterful conman whose risky schemes included impersonating Saudi and Emirati princes. In this After Action podcast episode, we uncover how Gignac used his fake royal persona to orchestrate an international fraud scheme and accumulate immense wealth. Discover the intricate web of deception he spun as he acquired luxurious vehicles, exquisite jewelry, and fashionable accessories worth millions. Learn how DSS pursued him, ultimately leading to Gignac’s arrest and conviction.

Welcome back to After Action: True Stories of the Diplomatic Security Service. In this second episode, we get to hear from DSS Director Carlos Matus as he recalls some historic moments of his career, and “rites of passage” for many DSS agents. From protecting some of the most notable Secretaries of State and serving at high-threat diplomatic posts to a nearly fatal event in Latin America, his experiences, missions, and remarkable undertakings are stories you don’t want to miss.

Supervisory Special Agent Kala Bokelman has investigated dozens of criminals operating on a global scale. One of her most complex and demanding investigations involved a photographer who used his legitimate business to sexually exploit children as young as eight years old. Hear how Kala worked with Costa Rican law enforcement and judicial officials to investigate and ultimately convict those involved in this heinous crime.