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Appointee Directory View:   Richard Griffin -- Department of State Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions The U.S. Senate confirmed Richard J. Griffin as Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, with the rank of Ambassador, on Thursday, June 16. He was sworn in on June 22. As Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Ambassador Griffin leads a powerful global force of 32,000 special agents, engineers, couriers, security specialists, and other professionals who make up the security and law enforcement arm of the U.S. State Department. Diplomatic Security is dedicated to ensuring that the United States can conduct diplomacy safely and securely around the world. As Director of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Foreign Missions, Ambassador Griffin manages reciprocity and immunity issues for foreign diplomats in the United States. Ambassador Griffin came to Diplomatic Security from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he served as Inspector General from 1997 to 2005. As Inspector General, he directed a nationwide staff of auditors, investigators, inspectors, and support personnel. His office conducted oversight reviews to improve the economy, effectiveness, and efficiency of Veterans Affairs programs, and to prevent and detect criminal activity, waste, abuse and fraud. Ambassador Griffin previously served as Deputy Director at the U.S. Secret Service, where he was responsible for planning and directing all investigative, protective, and administrative programs. He began his career with the Secret Service in 1971 as an agent in the Chicago office. Subsequent positions included Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division, Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles, Deputy Assistant Director in the Office of Investigations, and Assistant Director for Protective Operations. During his career in the Secret Service, Ambassador Griffin received a number of special achievement awards. He also received in 1994 the Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive. In July 2000, he was the recipient of the Department of Veterans Affairs Exceptional Service Award. In 1971, Ambassador Griffin was awarded a bachelor’s degree in economics from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1984, received a master’s degree in business administration from Marymount University in Arlington, VA. He is a 1983 graduate of the National War College. In May 2004, Ambassador Griffin received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Marymount University. 202-565-8620

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