While news of White House “fence jumpers” has disappeared from the media, I thought perhaps it was about time I conveyed my thoughts on the Secret Service.
I believe two factors I have addressed numerous times in this blog – poor leadership and big government – are the causes of the degradation of one of the most highly thought of organizations, the Secret Service.
In my Oct. 1, post, It can all be traced back to President Obama, I said, “You may be shocked by the current revelations of security screw ups by the Secret Service, but you shouldn’t be surprised, because it can easily be traced back to the culture in the White House.”
Former Secret Service Agent Dan Emmett points to a lack of leadership as a cause in the degradation of the once respected agency. (foxnews.com)
Prior to the fence jumping incidents, former Secret Service Agent Dan Emmett, writing in the Washington Post, recalled a well-led agency with many of its top and mid-level supervisors coming from the armed forces. “They managed and led by the ethos of military leadership, which dictates accomplishing the mission while taking care of those entrusted to them. They expected much from their subordinates but know that they must set the example to follow,” he wrote.
“The Secret Service today is awash in managers, not leaders. Many supervisors have little tangible or leadership experience, yet they are designated as managers on the basis of their titles or long lists of schools attended,” Emmett explained.
Julia Pierson, the first woman to be named to direct the Secret Service, resigned after several embarrassing events. (dallasnews.com)
This was evident in the selection of Julia Pierson to head the agency early last year. Prior to being named director, Pierson served in positions giving her questionable leadership experience. Five years as deputy assistant director of the office of administration, and most recently five years as chief of staff to the director and assistant director of the office of human resources and training.
One must wonder if President Obama’s selection of Pierson as the first woman to head the agency was simply another political consideration.
This conveniently leads me to the role of big government being the secondary cause for the degradation we have seen in the Secret Service.
The Secret Service was moved from its long-held position in the Department of Treasury, to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, where it became mired along with 15 other components of this bloated organization. While most of us are aware that TSA, ICE and customs are in Homeland Security, my Grandson recently reminded me that the U. S. Coast Guard, the Science and Technology Directorate and FEMA also fall under DHS.
As we learned that the Secret Service is awash in managers, not leaders, one need only see the list of four under-secretaries, eight deputy under-secretaries, one principal under-secretary, 11 assistant secretaries, nine directors and two administrators that make up the hierarchy of DHS and imagine what has happened in its rapid growth.
Joseph Clancy, a 27-year veteran of the Secret Service who retired in 2011, has been brought back as acting director. (businessinsider.com)
How many of these positions were earned through proven leadership and how many were the result of political appointments, awarding impressive titles and perks of management to those with no leadership experience?
One bit of good news has surfaced in the appointment of Joseph P. Clancy as the Secret Service’s Acting Director. A 27-year veteran of the agency, who retired in 2011, Clancy gets high marks within security circles.
