A Career in the Secret Service: What it Takes

Interview with Kevin Sanchez-Cherry, IT Security Specialist What does it take for an information security professional to make it into the United States Secret Service? We asked Kevin Sanchez-Cherry, IT Security Specialist within the agency's Information Security Operations. In this exclusive interview, Sanchez-Cherry discusses: Types of Secret Service careers available to security professionals; What to expect during the hiring process; Myths and realities of a job in the Secret Service. Sanchez-Cherry is an IT Security Specialist for the United States Secret Service's Information Security Operations sub-division and is responsible for leading the Secret Service's Certification and Accreditation (C&A) Program and Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) Program. He also assists in the management of the enterprise Information Assurance (IA) Program for the Secret Service. Prior to joining the Secret Service in 2006, Mr. Sanchez-Cherry served two years as Principal Security Specialist with the Department of Commerce's Office of IT Security, Infrastructure and Technology (ITSIT), and was responsible for monitoring the agency's operating units' compliance with Federal and Department IT security requirements, laws and guidance.