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| Julia Pierson: pioneer out to restore secret service's tarnished reputation | Julia Pierson: pioneer out to restore secret service's tarnished reputation |
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| At a swearing-in ceremony in the White House this week for his new director of the secret service, Barack Obama was effusive in his praise. Julia Pierson, Obama said, was "breaking the mould". | At a swearing-in ceremony in the White House this week for his new director of the secret service, Barack Obama was effusive in his praise. Julia Pierson, Obama said, was "breaking the mould". |
| Pierson, 53, is the first female director in the agency's almost 150-year history. Many observers are hoping it's not the only mould she breaks. Her appointment comes at a time of renewed scrunity of the agency, less than a year after it was engulfed in a prostitution scandal during which questions were raised over a whether a wider macho culture lay behind it. | Pierson, 53, is the first female director in the agency's almost 150-year history. Many observers are hoping it's not the only mould she breaks. Her appointment comes at a time of renewed scrunity of the agency, less than a year after it was engulfed in a prostitution scandal during which questions were raised over a whether a wider macho culture lay behind it. |
| Her first task will be to rebuild trust in the service after the bruising it received in the aftermath of the Cartagena affair, involving a dozen agency employees investigated for misconduct a presidential summit in Colombia. After that scandal broke, the agency became less associated with acts of bravery in the service of the nation and more with the revelation that "wheels up, rings off" was a common motto among agents looking for a good time on foreign assignments. | Her first task will be to rebuild trust in the service after the bruising it received in the aftermath of the Cartagena affair, involving a dozen agency employees investigated for misconduct a presidential summit in Colombia. After that scandal broke, the agency became less associated with acts of bravery in the service of the nation and more with the revelation that "wheels up, rings off" was a common motto among agents looking for a good time on foreign assignments. |
| That Pierson, who was already the highest-ranking woman in the male-dominated agency, has crashed though the glass ceiling, is in no doubt. The first female agent was accepted into the agency in 1975, yet almost 30 years later only 10% of agents are women. | That Pierson, who was already the highest-ranking woman in the male-dominated agency, has crashed though the glass ceiling, is in no doubt. The first female agent was accepted into the agency in 1975, yet almost 30 years later only 10% of agents are women. |
| She was chosen over another candidate, former agent David O'Connor, according to the Washington Post, and there has been speculation in some quarters as to whether her appointment was designed to deflect criticism of the male-dominated agency. | She was chosen over another candidate, former agent David O'Connor, according to the Washington Post, and there has been speculation in some quarters as to whether her appointment was designed to deflect criticism of the male-dominated agency. |
| But what impact her leadership or indeed her gender will have on the tightly-knit elite organisation is open to debate. Because Pierson is an insider, a 30-year veteran of the agency, and was chief of staff under Mark Sullivan, under whose watch the Colombia scandal unfolded. | But what impact her leadership or indeed her gender will have on the tightly-knit elite organisation is open to debate. Because Pierson is an insider, a 30-year veteran of the agency, and was chief of staff under Mark Sullivan, under whose watch the Colombia scandal unfolded. |
| Sullivan, who resigned last month after apologising for the scandal, had been forced to apologise to Congress before, over the incident in the White House in 2009 when two would-be-reality TV contestants, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, managed to get through three security checkpoints and crashed President Obama's state dinner. | Sullivan, who resigned last month after apologising for the scandal, had been forced to apologise to Congress before, over the incident in the White House in 2009 when two would-be-reality TV contestants, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, managed to get through three security checkpoints and crashed President Obama's state dinner. |
| Ronald Kessler, the journalist and author who broke the Cartagena story and who has been deeply critical of Sullivan's management style, said he believed Pierson was chosen to continue the status quo at the agency and that nothing would change unless an outsider was brought in. | Ronald Kessler, the journalist and author who broke the Cartagena story and who has been deeply critical of Sullivan's management style, said he believed Pierson was chosen to continue the status quo at the agency and that nothing would change unless an outsider was brought in. |
| Kessler welcomed Pierson's appointment as timely. He said: "It's great that it is a woman. It's about time." But he added: "What they really need is an outside director to shake it up." | Kessler welcomed Pierson's appointment as timely. He said: "It's great that it is a woman. It's about time." But he added: "What they really need is an outside director to shake it up." |
| "President Obama expressed confidence in Mark Sullivan, even although he presided over the scandals at Colombia and of the Salahis," Kessler told the Guardian. "She was Mark's deputy; she is known for her loyalty. Agents are very patriotic – after all, they will take a bullet for the president." | "President Obama expressed confidence in Mark Sullivan, even although he presided over the scandals at Colombia and of the Salahis," Kessler told the Guardian. "She was Mark's deputy; she is known for her loyalty. Agents are very patriotic – after all, they will take a bullet for the president." |
| In Washington, there is widespread acknowledgement that Pierson has her work cut out. | In Washington, there is widespread acknowledgement that Pierson has her work cut out. |
| In a statement, Republican senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said the secret service had "lost the trust of many Americans and failed to live up to the high expectations placed on it. Ms Pierson has a lot of work ahead of her to create a culture that respects the important job the agency is tasked with." | In a statement, Republican senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said the secret service had "lost the trust of many Americans and failed to live up to the high expectations placed on it. Ms Pierson has a lot of work ahead of her to create a culture that respects the important job the agency is tasked with." |
| Jeffrey Robinson, the co-author of Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside the Secret Service, said that there had been a push from "factions within the Republican party" who wanted to see a civilian appointment, but that it was never going to happen. The job of director does not need Senate confirmation. | Jeffrey Robinson, the co-author of Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside the Secret Service, said that there had been a push from "factions within the Republican party" who wanted to see a civilian appointment, but that it was never going to happen. The job of director does not need Senate confirmation. |
| "They have a civilian in the FBI, but it would never work in the secret service," said Robinson. "They need someone who can understand all the different aspects of protection. Bringing someone from outside would screw it up. President Obama was never going to do that." | "They have a civilian in the FBI, but it would never work in the secret service," said Robinson. "They need someone who can understand all the different aspects of protection. Bringing someone from outside would screw it up. President Obama was never going to do that." |
| While Robinson believes the Colombia scandal was not representative of the service as a whole, he says having Pierson at the helm will help to draw a line under the affair. | While Robinson believes the Colombia scandal was not representative of the service as a whole, he says having Pierson at the helm will help to draw a line under the affair. |
| In total, 13 male agents and officers were found to be involved in the scandal last April during which, before the president's arrival, agents took prostitutes back to their hotel rooms and one became involved in an argument over payment. Several agents, including two supervisors, lost their jobs. New rules were subsequently introduced by Sullivan over the use of alcohol. He also imposed a curfew on international trips. | In total, 13 male agents and officers were found to be involved in the scandal last April during which, before the president's arrival, agents took prostitutes back to their hotel rooms and one became involved in an argument over payment. Several agents, including two supervisors, lost their jobs. New rules were subsequently introduced by Sullivan over the use of alcohol. He also imposed a curfew on international trips. |
| Robinson said: "The fact she is a woman is important, because that old excuse – that boys will be boys – is not going to work. | Robinson said: "The fact she is a woman is important, because that old excuse – that boys will be boys – is not going to work. |
| "The Cartagena incident was an anomaly, a mixture of testosterone and alcohol. They were a bunch of idiots and they were never part of the president's team. These guys have been forced out and demoted. Word has gone out." | "The Cartagena incident was an anomaly, a mixture of testosterone and alcohol. They were a bunch of idiots and they were never part of the president's team. These guys have been forced out and demoted. Word has gone out." |
| Robinson said that the majority of secret service personnel were dedicated professionals who "make enormous sacrifices. They have the highest divorce rates of all the agencies. They are never home. If they fail, somebody dies. | Robinson said that the majority of secret service personnel were dedicated professionals who "make enormous sacrifices. They have the highest divorce rates of all the agencies. They are never home. If they fail, somebody dies. |
| "The job of the director of the secret service is not just an administrative one. When the president travels, the director is there. There are real threats, all the time and if they fail, this man dies. Or his wife dies. Or his children. They work under enormous pressure." | "The job of the director of the secret service is not just an administrative one. When the president travels, the director is there. There are real threats, all the time and if they fail, this man dies. Or his wife dies. Or his children. They work under enormous pressure." |
| At Pierson's swearing-in ceremony, Obama praised her experience and touched on the nature of the relationship. He said: "I have to say that Julia's reputation within the service is extraordinary. She's come up through the ranks; she's done just about every job there is to do at the secret service." | At Pierson's swearing-in ceremony, Obama praised her experience and touched on the nature of the relationship. He said: "I have to say that Julia's reputation within the service is extraordinary. She's come up through the ranks; she's done just about every job there is to do at the secret service." |
| He then joked: "As Joe Biden already pointed out, this person now probably has more control over our lives than anyone else – except for our spouses." | He then joked: "As Joe Biden already pointed out, this person now probably has more control over our lives than anyone else – except for our spouses." |
| Pierson's appointment was welcomed by Darrel Issa, the Republican chairman of the oversight and government reform committee, who raised concerns that the Colombia scandal was indicative of a wider problem at the service. | Pierson's appointment was welcomed by Darrel Issa, the Republican chairman of the oversight and government reform committee, who raised concerns that the Colombia scandal was indicative of a wider problem at the service. |
| In a statement, Issa said: "Just as Director Sullivan led the secret service through some difficult times, Director Pierson is poised to continue the agency's proud non-partisan legacy." | In a statement, Issa said: "Just as Director Sullivan led the secret service through some difficult times, Director Pierson is poised to continue the agency's proud non-partisan legacy." |
| Pierson, who was drawn to the secret service after meeting agents at the Law Enforcement Exploring Programme, a co-ed branch of the Boy Scouts of America, entered the service soon after college, after a spell as an officer with the Orlando police department. | Pierson, who was drawn to the secret service after meeting agents at the Law Enforcement Exploring Programme, a co-ed branch of the Boy Scouts of America, entered the service soon after college, after a spell as an officer with the Orlando police department. |
| She joined as a special agent in Miami, before going on to work on the security detail of three presidents – George Bush Sr, Bill Clinton and George W Bush – in a career that has spanned three decades. She was working as presidential protection on 9/11, "in charge of making sure everyone was accounted for" according to an interview in the Smithsonian magazine in 2007. Since 2008, she has been the chief of staff in the director's office in Washington, where her main areas of operation were technology and modernisation. | She joined as a special agent in Miami, before going on to work on the security detail of three presidents – George Bush Sr, Bill Clinton and George W Bush – in a career that has spanned three decades. She was working as presidential protection on 9/11, "in charge of making sure everyone was accounted for" according to an interview in the Smithsonian magazine in 2007. Since 2008, she has been the chief of staff in the director's office in Washington, where her main areas of operation were technology and modernisation. |
| When she was made chief of staff, Paul Morrissey, assistant director of the Office of Government and Public Affairs, described her ascent as "amazing." | When she was made chief of staff, Paul Morrissey, assistant director of the Office of Government and Public Affairs, described her ascent as "amazing." |
| "She's hit every position on the way up to chief of staff," he said. | "She's hit every position on the way up to chief of staff," he said. |
| Former agent Dave Wilkinson worked with Pierson, and described her as a "dedicated leader". | Former agent Dave Wilkinson worked with Pierson, and described her as a "dedicated leader". |
| Wilkinson, who retired from the service in 2005 and is now president of the Atlanta police foundation, moved up through the ranks with Sullivan and served with him as assistant agent in charge of the president's detail. | Wilkinson, who retired from the service in 2005 and is now president of the Atlanta police foundation, moved up through the ranks with Sullivan and served with him as assistant agent in charge of the president's detail. |
| He maintains the Colombian debacle was an isolated incident that does not reflect a wider macho culture. In an email to the Guardian, he said: "I am sure the president has appointed Julia based on her qualifications as a dedicated leader; not because he thinks the secret service needs fixing." | |
| Asked if he believed that Pierson's appointment may attract more women to the service, Wilkinson, who was in charge of hiring during his time at the agency, said that it had always been a priority to hire woman. | Asked if he believed that Pierson's appointment may attract more women to the service, Wilkinson, who was in charge of hiring during his time at the agency, said that it had always been a priority to hire woman. |
| About one in 10 of secret service's 3,500 agents are women, with the same proportion in the uniformed service, according to a spokesman for the service. | About one in 10 of secret service's 3,500 agents are women, with the same proportion in the uniformed service, according to a spokesman for the service. |
| "The fact is that the percentage of women hired based on the number of applications is much higher than that of men," said Wilkinson. | "The fact is that the percentage of women hired based on the number of applications is much higher than that of men," said Wilkinson. |
| However, he said that the attrition rate is higher too, as women often leave to start families or transfer with their spouses. | However, he said that the attrition rate is higher too, as women often leave to start families or transfer with their spouses. |
| "The secret service spends a great deal of energy discussing ways to improve the attrition for female agents," he said. | "The secret service spends a great deal of energy discussing ways to improve the attrition for female agents," he said. |