Train with the Diplomatic Security Service to Protect Diplomats and Missions

Wendy A. Bashnan is a Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a member of the Senior Foreign Service. Currently, she serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director to the Training Directorate. In this capacity, she advises the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service (DS/DSS) on the formulation and implementation of all security and law enforcement training programs and policies for DS. She manages a Directorate comprised of the Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance (DS/T/ATA), the Office of Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (DS/T/FASTC), and the Office of Mobile Security Deployments (DS/T/MSD). In her previous assignment as Director of the NATO Office of Security, Ms. Bashnan served as the Principal Security Advisor to the Secretary General and to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. In this capacity, she led strategic planning efforts with foreign government and military partners, assessed and mitigated security risks to NATO missions worldwide, negotiated and implemented security agreements with non-NATO nations and other IGOs, and managed a staff of approximately 190 security staff from other NATO nations. Prior to NATO, Ms. Bashnan served as the Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. There she was the primary interlocutor with offices within the Department, other U.S. government agencies, foreign government partners, and private industry stakeholders on the Bureau's full spectrum of mission critical security programs. Her portfolio included the developing policy and strategy, utilizing vital resources and staff, and evaluating the overall DS mission and performance for the Department of State, both domestic and overseas.  Ms. Bashnan has also served as the Special Agent in Charge for the New York Field Office and Miami Field Office; Senior Regional Security Officer (RSO) in the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Iraq and in the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela; Deputy Olympic Security Coordinator in Beijing, China; Agent in Charge for the Office of Dignitary Protection, serving as the Major Events Coordinator for the United Nations General Assembly 60th Anniversary. Other assignments included Assistant RSO in Cairo, Egypt and RSO in Georgetown, Guyana and Asmara, Eritrea.  Ms. Bashnan has been the recipient of numerous U.S. Department of State Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor awards throughout her career. Prior to joining DSS, Ms. Bashnan was a probation/parole officer in her home state of South Carolina. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and a M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina.

Major Vincent J. Straface, a twenty-two year veteran of the New York State Police, is the Commanding Officer in charge of the New York State Police - Protective Services Unit which over sees the Governor's Protective Security Detail, Visiting Dignitary Protection Unit, and Protective Intelligence and Threat Assessment Unit.  During his tenure he has served in the position of Trooper, Investigator, Senior Investigator, Sergeant, T/Lieutenant, Captain and his current role of Major.  Major Straface also currently serves on the board of the National Governor's Security Association (NGSA) as Regional Vice-President, which represents all 50 States and US Territories Governor's Security Details.

Charles Jarvis has had the pleasure to serve the city of Los Angeles at Los Angeles World Airports as a Police Officer for 16 years. In that time he has promoted within his division to working with the Office of Homeland Security. His daily job functions are that of facilitating the highest-profile government officials from around the world on force protection movements. He also has duties within Emergency Operations planning relating to incident command systems on presidential visits. He is a Terrorism Liaison Officer as well as a member of the command post cadre and joint vulnerability assessment team.  Charles helped to facilitate the following:  Speaker/ Scenario Facilitator for LACC LAX active shooter scenario at UCLA Ronald Reagan, Speaker/ Scenario Facilitator for AVSEC 832.1 pc Aviation Security Certification Course. Charles regularly facilitates scenario based training and an informative slide share presentation on the principles of force protection within an airport environment.  Educational degrees held by Charles include:  California Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy. He earned an A.A in administration of Justice while completing the Police Academy. He earned B.A. in Communication Studies - concentration in Persuasive, Interpersonal, Organizational Skills. He earned a M.S in Leadership and Management, (MSLM concentrating in organizational leadership). Advanced training Charles has completed: Diplomatic Security Law Enforcement Officer Training Program Fall 2019 (US DSS- Blackstone VA), Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings (EMRTC - New Mexico Tech- Socorro NM), Federal Air Marshal Fuselage Tactics Training (FAMS - Los Angeles CA), Protection of Public Officials (CHP - Sacramento CA), Dignitary Security, Threat recognition and Terrorism Training (LASO - Los Angeles CA) Notable certifications Charles has earned: Cal OES (CSTI) Terrorism Specialist and Homeland Security Certification # 143, Cal OES (CSTI) Emergency Management Specialist Certification # 376, LAPD (AICC) Academy Instructor Certification Course # 1850-21705. 

I am a Special Agent with twelve years of experience in the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Prior to joining DSS, I completed four years of active duty service in U.S. Army Special Operations, to include two deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am currently on my seventh assignment with Diplomatic Security and just finished my second overseas post as an Assistant Regional Security Officer. Since joining DSS in 2008, I have served in the New York Field Office, D.S. Command Center, Secretary's Detail, Consulate General Jerusalem, Los Angeles Field Office, Embassy Hanoi, and the Foreign Affairs Training Center.