The Off The X Podcast

Retired Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Supervisory Special Agent & Author of "American Diplomat - Surviving on the Front Lines of Diplomacy as a U.S Foreign Service Special Agent" joins the Off The X Podcast and discusses his 20+ year career in the DSS serving at posts around the globe including the US Embassies in Bangkok Thailand, Cairo Egypt, Bratislava Slovakia, Dhaka Bangladesh, US Consulate in Basrah Iraq and more.

Listen in as I speak with Dylan Ragan, former Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent, about this time serving in the DSS across the globe. Dylan served in the New York Field Office, Lagos Nigeria, Istanbul Turkey, Herat Afghanistan - during the violent terrorist attack at the U.S. Consulate, Bratislavia Slovakia and ending his career as a State Department Polygraph Branch Chief.  

Listen in as NYT Best Selling Author and former Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent Fred Burton discusses his role in the DS Counterterrorism Division (currently known as PII) investigating some of the most high profile cases including the investigations of the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing - Ramzi Yousef, the kidnapping of Beirut CIA Station Chief William Buckley, Americans kidnapped by Hezbollah and more!

Tune in as I have a detailed discussion about the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Counterintelligence (CI) Unit with Robert Booth. Robert is the author of the book: State Department Counterintelligence - Leaks, Spies and Lies. Robert served nearly 30 years with the DSS and was heavily focused on CI. He played a role in major CI cases including the investigation into Robert Hanssen, Kendall Meyers, and Donald Keyser. 

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Tune in to the next episode of the Off The X Podcast where I have a conversation with DSS Supervisory Special Agent Kevin Warrener. Kevin served at NYFO, U.S. Embassy Manama, Bahrain, Counterintelligence Branch, as Site Security for the U.S. Mission to China, at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok and at High Threat Protection unit.

Listen in as I speak to retired DSS Special Agent Jim Minor about his time serving as a DS Special Agent. In this episode Jim takes us through his career and his role in a number of critical and historical events. This includes his time serving in Mogadishu, Somalia, investigating Ramzi Yousef, the East Africa Bombings of our US Embassies, USS Cole, 9/11, Boston Marathon Bomber and Benghazi. 

Listen in to this SPECIAL EDITION of the Off The X Podcast where I speak to Rob Young. Rob is a Police Sergeant in the Stockton Unified School District where in 1989 at Cleveland Elementary he was a victim in one of the first ever Active Shooter events in a school. Rob survived and thrived and has made it his life's mission to keep our children safe in school. Tune in to his amazing story on the Off The X Podcast. 

Listen in as I discuss Jason's time as a MSG at U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia and Bogota, Colombia. In this episode, we go over MSG training, duties and responsibilities, lifestyle, and the uniqueness of serving at U.S. Embassy Moscow! If you're an aspiring DS Agent this one is a must listen. 

Listen in as former United States Marine Staff Sergeant Jason Kyle and I discuss the training, mission, and lifestyle of the United States Marine that serve at U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world. We talk about everything from Clayton Lonetree, the training it takes to work at a Designated Country (DC) Post, and how Marine Security Guards view the civilians that operationally lead them; Diplomatic Security Special Agents. 

Join me as I chat with Special Agent Chris Kopeck about his two decades in the Diplomatic Security Service serving in the New York Field Office, U.S. Embassy Muscat Oman, Resident Office St. Louis and at multiple TDY assignments.