Mobile Security Deployments

Office of Mobile Security Deployments
MSD protecting Secretary of State John Kerry in Saudi Arabia in 2016
MSD protecting Secretary of State John Kerry in Saudi Arabia in 2016
Active1985–present[1]
Country United States
Agency Diplomatic Security Service
TypePolice tactical unit
Operations jurisdiction
  • National
  • International
Part ofDirectorate of the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director of Training[2]
HeadquartersDunn Loring, Virginia[3]
AbbreviationMSD
Structure
Special Agents69[1]
Teams13[3]
Website
Official website

Mobile Security Deployments (MSD) is a small specialized tactical unit within the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) of the United States Department of State.[1] The MSD provides U.S. embassies and consulates with security support, protects the Secretary of State and other U.S. officials, including domestically as well as visiting foreign officials, and also provides security training at U.S embassies and consulates.[1][3]

The majority of its operations are overseas with only 10% conducted in the United States.[1] The unit was formed in 1985 and c. 2002 was renamed Mobile Security Deployments from Mobile Security Division.[3][4]

  1. ^ a b c d e Federal Tactical Teams: Characteristics, Training, Deployments, and Inventory (PDF) (Report). GAO-20-710. United States Government Accountability Office. September 10, 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  2. ^ "1 FAM 260 Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS)". Foreign Affairs Manual and Handbook. U.S. State Department. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Office of Inspector General (October 2017). Inspection of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Office of Mobile Security Deployments (PDF) (Report). ISP-I-18-05. U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2021.
  4. ^ Katz, Samuel M. (September 2000). "Operations: Agents Under fire". Law & Order. 48 (9). Hendon Publishing Company. ISSN 0023-9194.