Diplomatic Security: Foreign Service Security Engineering Officer

Foreign Service Security Engineering Officer

Foreign Service Security Engineering Officers (SEOs) are members of the Diplomatic Security team who protect U.S. Department of State personnel, facilities, and sensitive information against acts of crime, terrorism, and technical espionage. SEOs carry out this mission at over 275 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, as well as offices in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area and Fort Lauderdale, FL.

SEOs are deemed essential security personnel whose duties can vary according to the size of the U.S. presence, the requirements of the specific diplomatic facility, and known threats. The following are the duties and tasks of all the SEO jobs in the Department at all locations and levels to provide a complete understanding of work throughout a career based on the most recent job analysis.

Managing Engineering Offices

• Oversees security networks.
• Plans the layout of facilities.
• Determines required work.
• Plans projects, oversees project planning on other areas, and documents completed activities.
• Distributes workload.
• Coordinates the flow of activities.
• Identifies and monitors needed resources.
• Reports office activities.
• Evaluates assigned employees.
• Advocates employee concerns and recognizes employee contributions.
• Ensures and promotes equal employment opportunities.
• Manages office safety program.
• Creates and maintains web sites.
• Manages accountable property.

Providing Technical Support Throughout Geographic Region

• Serves as the security engineering subject matter expert in a geographic region.
• Monitors the technical security status of constituent posts.
• Determines required support.
• Coordinates planned travel.
• Authorizes and directs regional travel.
• Designates team leaders.
• Identifies support and safety requirements.
• Installs and replaces security equipment.
• Oversees equipment testing and maintenance.
• Addresses emergencies on a timely basis.
• Supports crisis management.

Completing Assessments and Evaluations of Security

• Provides technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM).
• Performs TSCM inspections at embassies and consulates.
• Conducts annual technical security assessments.
• Completes computer security assessments.
• Ensures material and equipment security.
• Considers improvements in the technology of adversaries.
• Completes inspection and assessment reporting.
• Serves as a non-professional diplomatic courier.

Overseeing the U.S. Department of State's Regional Computer Security Officer Program

• Serves as a regional computer security officer.
• Inspects regional computer facilities.
• Formally evaluates information technology assessments.
• Designs, improves, or modifies information technology networks.
• Manages cyber security programs.

Directing Engineering Disciplines

• Works as a design engineer.
• Works as a systems engineer.
• Works as a radio-frequency engineer.
• Works as a project engineer.
• Works as a network engineer.
• Works as an emanations engineer.
• Works as a biometrics countermeasures/verification engineer.
• Develops requests for proposals.
• Serves on technical evaluation panels.
• Serves as a contracting officer's representative.
• Serves on interagency committees.
• Develops special projects for physical security in high threat posts.
• Monitors the development of new equipment.
• Evaluates equipment proposed for controlled access areas.
• Designs installation guidance plans.
• Specifies equipment, supplies, and installation material.
• Applies systems engineering to the computerized maintenance management system.
• Addresses computerized maintenance management system support requirements.

Representing the U.S. Department of State on Committees

• Represents the U.S. Department of State on technical and physical security issues with allied nations.
• Represents the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in committee work.
• Participates in international and interagency exercises.

Evaluating Technical Security and Construction Projects for the Department or Other Government Agencies

• Reviews engineering drawings.
• Performs quality assurance inspections.
• Participates in the accreditation process of facilities.
• Develops technical security standards and policies.
• Oversees compliance with department security standards.
• Manages the security of construction sites.
• Leads in the commissioning of new embassies/consulates/missions.
• Prepares decommissioning plans.