# Diplomatic Security – United States Department of State

- Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on North Korean IT Workers Office of the Spokesperson													HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on North Korean IT Workers				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on North Korean IT Workers																																		Media Note																														May 16, 2024																																							The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms of persons engaged in certain activities that support the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Such activities include money laundering that supports the Government of North Korea or any senior official or person acting for or on behalf of that government.The Department is seeking information on North Korean information technology (IT) workers using aliases Jiho Han, Chunji Jin, and Haoran Xu, and their manager Zhonghua. These individuals engaged in a scheme that enabled Han, Jin, and Xu to obtain illicit telework employment with U.S. companies using false identities belonging to more than 60 real U.S. persons. The illicit scheme generated at least $6.8 million for the DPRK.From about October 2020 until October 2023, U.S. national Christina Chapman helped Han, Jin, and Xu obtain work as remote software and applications developers with companies in a range of sectors and industries. They also attempted &#8212; but failed &#8212; to gain similar employment at two U.S. government agencies. These IT workers are linked to the DPRK’s Munitions Industry Department, which oversees the development of the DPRK’s ballistic missiles, weapons production, and research and development programs.Chapman assisted the North Korean IT workers in acquiring valid identities of real U.S. citizens. She also received and hosted laptop computers issued to the IT workers by U.S. employers to make it appear that the overseas workers were located in the United States and assisted the workers in connecting remotely to the U.S. companies’ IT networks on a daily basis. She also helped launder the proceeds from the scheme by receiving, processing, and distributing paychecks from the U.S. firms to these IT workers and others.More information about this reward offer is located on the Rewards for Justice website, and on X (formerly known as Twitter) at https://twitter.com/RFJ_USA; https://twitter.com/RFJ_korean; and https://twitter.com/RFJ_mandarin.  We encourage anyone with information on Jiho Han, Chunji Jin, Haoran Xu, Zhonghua, Christina Chapman, or associated individuals or entities to contact the Rewards for Justice office via its Tor-based tips-reporting channel at: he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion (Tor browser required).RFJ is an effective national security tool and is administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.&nbsp; Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid more than $250 million to more than125 people across the globe who provided information that helped prevent terrorism, bring terrorist leaders to justice, and resolve threats to U.S. national security. Of that amount, RFJ has paid rewards of $5 million each&nbsp;to two individuals whose information helped disrupt an illicit financial scheme that benefitted the DPRK.						Tags																					Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs																								North Korea																								Office of the Spokesperson																																Rewards for Justice
- Diplomatic Security Service Commits to 30×30 Initiative WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) announced today its commitment to the 30&#215;30 Initiative, joining a coalition of law enforcement leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who seek to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States.By signing this initiative, DSS pledges to increase the representation of women in its recruit classes to 30 percent by 2030, and to ensure its policies and culture intentionally support the success of its female law enforcement officers.Today’s announcement also demonstrates DSS’ efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive workforce and fulfill the federal law enforcement recruitment, retention and accountability goals set forth in Executive Order 14074.“DSS is proud to join a group of more than 240 law enforcement agencies that have committed to improving the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement,” said DSS Director Carlos Matus. “Although this initiative is aimed at increasing the representation of women, completing the pledge actions will further our progress towards increasing all types of diversity across DSS.”DSS has the largest global presence of any U.S. law enforcement organization, operating at more than 270 U.S. diplomatic posts in over 170 countries, and in 30+ U.S. cities. The organization is responsible for investigating transnational crimes and for protecting State Department facilities, people, and information as part of its mission to lead worldwide security and law enforcement efforts that advance U.S. foreign policy and safeguard national security interests.To learn more about the Diplomatic Security Service, please visit diplomaticsecurity.state.gov.For media queries, please contact DS-Press@state.gov.
- Diplomatic Security Service and United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Sign Memorandum of Understanding Reaffirming Team USA Security HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Diplomatic Security Service and United States Olympic &#038; Paralympic Committee Sign Memorandum of Understanding Reaffirming Team USA Security				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Diplomatic Security Service and United States Olympic &#038; Paralympic Committee Sign Memorandum of Understanding Reaffirming Team USA Security																																		Media Note																														April 17, 2024																																							On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and the United States Olympic &amp; Paralympic Committee (USOPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reaffirming the existing relationship between the two organizations that coordinate the safety and security of Team USA at international sporting events.The MOU identifies the roles, responsibilities, and relationships between DSS and the USOPC to provide a safe and secure environment for Team USA at the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, and Parapan American Games and other international sporting events held outside the United States, in collaboration with the host nation security services and event organizers.The MOU was signed by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service Carlos Matus and United States Olympic &amp; Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Sarah Hirshland on behalf of their organizations.DSS is proud to serve as the security lead for the United States presence at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and remains committed to creating a safe and secure environment for our Team USA athletes to compete around the world.For further information, please contact DS-Press@state.gov, or visit diplomaticsecurity.state.gov.						Tags																					Bureau of Diplomatic Security																																Disability																																							Diversity and Inclusion																															Office of the Spokesperson																																Sports
- DSS has logisticians around the world–Meet two who are going above and beyond in Africa By Jason Haskins, Security Engineering Officer in Pretoria, South AfricaDiplomatic Security Service (DSS) personnel can attest to the fact that hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces of security equipment accumulate in embassies and consulates overseas. Any item valued at over $500 is considered an asset and needs to be inventoried. As DSS and the office of security technology continues to complete security upgrades, the number of assets continues to increase and become more difficult to track.At the onset of each fiscal year, DSS begins the task of accounting for its technical security assets during the annual inventory. The heroes of inventory season are the 45 DSS logisticians in engineering security centers and offices around the world. Armed with barcode scanners, they scan cameras, security equipment installed at the embassy, screening equipment at guard booths, and spare parts in storerooms.Who are DSS logisticians? At engineering security centers and offices, they are typically family members of foreign service personnel and are knowledgeable about supply chain management, operations, and logistics. They provide year-round support with ordering, shipping, and receiving materials for technical security repairs, maintenance, or disposal. They assist with routing work orders and manage the storage and inventories of spare parts and systems. Whenever systems are repaired or replaced, they contribute to the record keeping and property management. There are countless logisticians working across the organization both domestically and overseas.With embassies and consulates in over 270 locations, DSS logisticians often utilize strategic planning and proactive thinking to ensure the correct parts are available even in the most remote places. Parts can take months to arrive and, if logisticians have not done their jobs properly, this could mean that a system, tool, or device is out of commission for just as long.Both seasoned and new logisticians alike find the work challenging but rewarding, especially due to the complexity and scale of the work. DSS Logistician Abdoulaye has been in this position for seven years. His wife works for the United States Agency for International Development and being a logistician for DSS allows him the flexibility to follow her wherever she is assigned. Together, they have worked in Manila, Dakar, and Pretoria.“I like discovering new places and helping to make the embassies safer,” Abdoulaye says about his work as a logistician with DSS. During this year alone, he conducted inventories in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Windhoek, Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Maputo, and Gaborone accounting for more than 3,000 DSS assets valued at over $8 million dollars.In contrast, DSS Logistician Megan just finished her first annual inventory and already loves the job. She is currently working in Dar es Salaam and completed inventories there as well as in Lilongwe and Harare. Throughout this process, she accounted for more than 800 assets, ensuring everything was where it needed to be to help those keeping the embassies and consulates safe.The engineering security office (ESO) in Dar es Salaam achieved 100% accountability of all assets, making Megan and her team literally perfect at their jobs.“My favorite part of working with the ESO is the sense of community and transfer of knowledge across missions. The Dar es Salaam ESO team is a fun and welcoming group of experts who are all passionate about their work,” said Megan.
- Women in Law Enforcement Make Up a Growing Part of Antiterrorism Assistance Program By Georgia Bernbaum, Intern, DSS Antiterrorism Assistance ProgramThe State Department’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA), implemented by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and funded by the Counterterrorism Bureau, is committed to helping advance gender equality in the law enforcement ranks of the host nations served by the program.  ATA strives to provide women in partner nations not only with the skills to help meet their country’s law enforcement goals, but also provide training opportunities and resources to help them succeed in their careers. As a result, there is a growing number of women undertaking increasingly significant roles in law enforcement, security, and counterterrorism, both abroad and within the United States.Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, ATA trained more than 18,000 foreign law enforcement partners in over 40 countries from 2019 to early 2022—more than 1,100 of whom were women.“Women are deeply connected to, and trusted within, the communities in which they serve,” said Supervisory Special Agent Julie Cabus, deputy assistant secretary and assistant director of the DSS Training Directorate. “Connection and trust are two foundations of effective law enforcement and security operations.”In several of ATA’s programs, women have been at the center of DSS various successes. In 2019, two Gendarmerie officers in the Central African Republic became the first women to serve on an ATA-trained and equipped Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPEAR) team that directly supports the U.S. Embassy in Bangui. Embassy officials report that the women are serving as nationwide role models for other women in law enforcement.In Jordan, the ATA-sponsored National Center for Security and Crisis Management (Jordan’s national emergency call center) has led to male and female police officers working side-by-side, with the female officers filling critical roles in the center’s operation.  ATA also works with women in other law enforcement units throughout Jordan.In Kenya, ATA is expanding support for the nation’s all-female SWAT unit, organized in 2019, whose commander praises years of ATA courses in helping her develop the leadership abilities to build a successful unit from the ground up.ATA’s success in supporting women in law enforcement overseas also extends to the United States where women are in key ATA management positions in DSS.“When I started, I was the only woman in my unit,” said Donna Porter, the monitoring, evaluation support, and sustainment coordinator at ATA headquarters in the Washington, D.C., metro area. “Then we hired an amazing management analyst, and our current boss is the first woman to be an Assessment and Monitoring Unit chief.  There are now women working in every unit across ATA headquarters.”Dr. Crystal Navies, ATA instructional systems specialist branch chief and retired military police officer, said that she often faces biases but “knowledge and confidence are key.” Kimberly Brown, ATA Kenya program manager and retired DSS supervisory special agent, noted that as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, “you must prove your capabilities, but once you demonstrate you’re competent, you gain the respect of your colleagues.”Navies and Brown both said that there has been a steady increase in the number of women in the ATA program. In 2018, women made up fewer than 5 percent of ATA participants but by 2021, women comprised 7.4 percent.“The value that women bring to law enforcement globally cannot be overstated,” said DAS Cabus.  “ATA continues to promote diversity and human rights within its programs and with partner nations.”
- DSS Special Agents Receive Group Achievement Award for Security Response During Civil Unrest in Iraq The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) awarded the FLEOA Group Achievement Award to 34 special agents with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) for defending the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, against direct and indirect attacks during 24 hours of sustained civil unrest in August of 2022.On August 29, 2022, Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist Movement and an influential Iraqi politician and militia leader, announced his official “resignation” from Iraqi politics. Following this announcement, Sadrist-aligned protests began organizing throughout the country. What began as protests and civil unrest devolved into open combat on the streets of Baghdad by rival militia groups. Over the course of 24 hours, the escalating violence made its way into the International Zone, where 3,000 U.S. personnel lived and worked at the U.S. Baghdad Embassy Compound (BEC). Their safety and wellbeing, and the security of the compound, were under the protection of the embassy’s regional security office (RSO), and the DSS special agents and other security personnel assigned there.By nightfall, the violence – including small arms fire, grenades, tear gas, and RPG launchers – moved ever closer to the BEC and its personnel. Thick smoke plumes and sustained audible gunfire could be seen and heard by residents of the compound. While most embassy personnel were under a safety curfew, the RSO team who had been closely monitoring the situation throughout the day took up defensive positions around the BEC.Throughout the night and the following morning, embassy personnel responded to numerous duck-and-cover alarms as rocket rounds and small arms fire intensified and directly impacted the embassy compound, including multiple impacts to battle positions staffed by RSO security personnel. As the fighting continued through the city, RSO teams continued to move about the compound in accordance with their duties and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all embassy personnel.According to the award nomination, “Security personnel under RSO command were deployed in full battle readiness in harm’s way, under constant threat of fire, to maintain their posts and ensure the integrity of the compound, while taking sustained small arms and indirect fire (IDF) over the course of the conflict.”This cadence of intense fighting around the BEC continued until the afternoon of August 30, when al-Sadr delivered a speech calling for an end to the violence. The RSO Baghdad team successfully defended the U.S. embassy and kept U.S. personnel safe during this 24-hour period of violent conflict. Their efforts and willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to protect residents of the BEC resulted in no casualties or injuries, and only property damage to some embassy buildings.DSS has the largest global presence of any U.S. law enforcement organization, operating at more than 270 U.S. diplomatic posts in over 170 countries, and in 30+ U.S. cities. The organization is responsible for investigating transnational crimes and for protecting State Department facilities, people, and information. For more information, contact ds-press@state.gov.
- Marine Security Guards and DSS Special Agents put their skills to the test with Germany’s most elite special police force Special Agent David Ortiz, Frankfurt, GermanyWhen Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) special agents work overseas at an embassy or consulate, they are in charge of the safety and security of the personnel who work there. This, of course, includes developing and facilitating safety drills so that personnel will know what to do if a crisis were to occur. Developing a strong relationship with host nation law enforcement counterparts and first responders also contributes to everyone&#8217;s safety; after all, they are the ones who will respond in the event of an actual crisis.These relationships are typically developed through close collaboration and joint training. Recently, DSS special agents and the Marine Security Guards (MSG) at the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt participated in a joint training exercise with one of Germany’s most elite state special police forces, the Spezialeinsatzkommando (SEK).The SEK is the State of Hessen’s special task force with capabilities and responsibilities equivalent to a U.S. SWAT team. The SEK executes high-risk arrest warrants, resolves issues arising from situations involving barricaded suspects, hostages, and victims of kidnapping, and supports other sensitive police operations. Membership in this highly professional force requires candidates from the state police to complete an arduous course that boasts an over 70 percent failure rate. To execute their missions, the SEK uses a wide variety of firearms ranging from semi-automatic pistols to sniper rifles.The SEK hosted DSS personnel and the MSG detachment at its range and offered them the opportunity to test a variety of SEK’s weapons and systems. Following an initial familiarization period, the SEK surprised the MSGs and DSS by challenging them to a shooting competition. DSS and MSG personnel paired up with SEK colleagues to move tactically down a shooting course, which included numerous shooting positions and multiple targets with a variety of weapons systems.Wanting to challenge and test more than speed and accuracy alone, the SEK had a few more surprises up its sleeves as the competition continued. Together, the teams engaged in progressively more challenging tasks that required each team to figure out a puzzle to determine the correct target, prioritize targets based on limited ammunition, and even engage targets from inside a vehicle.This friendly competition highlighted the unique skill sets of MSGs, DSS, and SEK personnel, proving what a professional team they make when each leverages their expertise. DSS personnel in Frankfurt continue to pursue opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Germany alliance and deepen relationships with host nation law enforcement agencies through outreach events, targeted training sessions, and cooperation in investigations. This most recent engagement with the SEK provided an invaluable opportunity to enhance the relationship with a key host nation partner that plays a critical role in the German government’s security response to emergency situations at diplomatic facilities in the State of Hessen.
- Former Iranian-Owned Boeing Aircraft Successfully Returned to the United States For Immediate Release – February 12, 2024Click here to read more about this&nbsp;
- “King” of Violent Haitian Gang Pleads Guilty to Gun Smuggling and Money Laundering After Government’s Case For Immediate Release – January 30, 2024Click here to read more about this&nbsp;
- Queens Woman Sentenced to 25 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in Visa Fraud, Identity Theft and Human Smuggling Scheme For Immediate Release – January 30, 2024Click here to read more about this&nbsp;