Who does the Diplomatic Security Service (DS) report to?

Who does the Diplomatic Security Service (DS) report to?

• A. The Secretary of State.
• B. The Under Secretary of State for Management.
• C. The Deputy Secretary of Defense.
• D. The Director of National Intelligence.

Answer: (B)

The Diplomatic Security Service is part of the Department of State and sits within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Its leadership, at the level of Assistant Secretary, answers to the Under Secretary for Management, who oversees the department’s security, resources, and administrative functions. This administrative path ensures DS aligns with State Department priorities and budgeting, while the Secretary of State remains the political head. The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence are not the supervisory line for DS, since DS is a State Department security entity rather than a component of DOD or the intelligence community.

The Diplomatic Security Service is part of the Department of State and sits within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Its leadership, at the level of Assistant Secretary, answers to the Under Secretary for Management, who oversees the department’s security, resources, and administrative functions. This administrative path ensures DS aligns with State Department priorities and budgeting, while the Secretary of State remains the political head. The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence are not the supervisory line for DS, since DS is a State Department security entity rather than a component of DOD or the intelligence community.