What did you do before starting a career in federal law enforcement?

• I worked in retail, catering and hospitality type positions in the private sector. I have also been active in philanthropic activity since before elementary school.

Was there ever a time when you couldn’t have imagined yourself in law enforcement?

• No. In elementary school I was asked by my third grade teacher what I wanted to do when I was an adult and I stood in front of my class and said I wanted to be an FBI agent. My classmate remembered that at my 30th grade school reunion last month.

What attracted you to your current position?

• I always had an interest in public service, criminal investigations and courtroom dynamics. I have learned to provide quality service. To do it, you must create an environment for employees to develop personally and professionally and provide a system where they can respond to the public in a unified manner with quality, efficiency, and consistency as the end goal.

Do you have a family or interests outside of work and how is your career impacted?

• My greatest sense of achievement outside of work has been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, House of Ruth and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. The emotional experience has strengthened my interest in community service. I have taken on mentoring roles within social and professional organizations. In the professional arena, I realized that uncertainty exists between the forensic science taught in academia and the practitioner’s experiences in the field. To help develop future leaders, I have taken a lead in working with universities and encouraging onsite internships to facilitate interaction with investigators and scientists in the laboratory. The objective is to give students an opportunity to experience the nuances that occur within the forensic sciences and crime scene investigation so they can move forward with realistic expectations of a career in this field. Over the years, I have been fortunate to have incredible mentors, in addition to my family, who have imparted words of wisdom regarding consistency, professional outreach, and resource awareness. My goal is to pass on to others what I have learned.

What’s the most rewarding part of your position?

• Supporting employees and student interns in the crime laboratory, communicating and working towards a common objective, and instilling confidence within each person to take pride in the work accomplished. It’s all part of an ongoing effort to achieve the ultimate goal of serving the public with integrity.

Forensics Services Division Positions

The Forensics Services Division (FSD) plans, directs, and coordinates forensic science activities within the Secret Service. Expert examiners in FSD provide analysis for questioned documents, fingerprints, false identification, credit cards, and other related forensic science areas.

All positions in the Forensics Services Division require U.S. citizenship, a top secret clearance and drug testing prior to appointment. Some positions require a polygraph and/or medical examination.

Benefits include: low-cost life insurance and federal health benefit plans; annual leave of 13 to 26 days a year, based on length of employment and prior federal civilian or military; 13 days of sick leave per year; paid holidays; comprehensive retirement benefits through the Federal Employee Retirement System; and participation in the Flexible Spending Account Program.

Application Process: The Secret Service only accepts applications during current vacancy announcement periods.

To learn more and how to apply please visit: www.secretservice.gov/join.