(Washington D.C.) Today, the United States Secret Service honored 120 of its employees during
the 6th annual Director’s Awards program. This program formally recognizes the outstanding
achievements, professional accomplishments, and exemplary service performed by Secret Service
employees. The awards were presented in three categories: Individual/Group Lifesaving Award,
Impact Award, and Employees of the Year.
“The accomplishments of the employees we are honoring today represent the Secret Service at its
very best,” said Director Randolph D. Alles. “The actions of these employees exemplify the tradition
of excellence for which this agency has always been known.”
“I know the selection process was tough, and these awards represent only a fraction of the
outstanding work you do every day,” said DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in her remarks. “I
would like to thank all of you for your service, for your sacrifice, and for bringing your talents to
the United States Secret Service.”
Employee of the Year Recipients:
The Employees of the Year Award, which encompasses the Special Agent, Uniformed Division
Officer, and Administrative, Professional, or Technical Employee of the Year, is presented to
employees who exhibited exceptional leadership or service to the Secret Service mission over the
previous year.
Special Agent of the Year
Peter J. Brown, Special Agent
Miami Field Office
As part of the South Florida Organized Fraud Task Force (SFOFTF), Special Agent Brown initiated
and led an investigation that identified and eliminated a large, organized criminal enterprise
operating in Florida and Colorado. In August 2017, Brown executed a search warrant and seized a
large credit card and false identification-manufacturing establishment in Florida, capable of
producing thousands of counterfeit cards and IDs per day. The defendant in the operation is now
serving a sentence of more than 9 years. Brown’s investigation included the execution of 15 federal
search warrants in several Florida locations and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Nineteen defendants
were charged, more than $500,000 in assets were seized, and the victimization of thousands of
people came to an end.
Uniformed Division Officer of the Year
Richard B. Macauley, Captain
White House Branch
As watch commander of the White House Branch, Captain Macauley consistently went above and
beyond the call of duty to improve protective operations at the White House Branch. He provided
steadfast leadership that has transformed the inner workings of a vast security enterprise by
coordinating Secret Service efforts, as well as many joint-agency efforts. Captain Macauley inspired
men and women of all ranks through his leadership by example and selfless dedication to
improving both operations and working conditions. He created instructional programs to
familiarize new Presidential Protective Detail supervisors with the White House Complex; managed
the Uniformed Division’s Inclusion and Engagement Council; and led the Joint Tactical
Memorandum of Understanding development project – all while maintaining oversight of his shift
operations. Most recently, Captain Macauley coordinated and implemented the first “live” training
Active Shooter joint exercise at the White House Complex.
Administrative, Professional, Technical Employee of the Year
Financial Analyst
Criminal Investigative Division
A Financial Analyst, who is recognized as one of the nation’s leading digital currency subject matter
experts, played a crucial part in every major Secret Service-led cyber investigation. A few
accomplishments include, but are not limited to: unraveling the primary payment processing
system used by a major carding site to accept customer deposits for stolen credit card and PII data;
assisting in the arrest of an administrator of a cryptocurrency exchange responsible for laundering
approximately $4 billion in cybercrime proceeds; and performing a forensic analysis of more than
10,000 bitcoin transactions that helped uncover the true identities of approximately 10
cybercriminals. In this matter, these criminals were engaged in criminal activities ranging from
online auction fraud to ATM brute force attacks.
Lifesaving Award Recipients:
The Lifesaving Award recognizes employees who have performed a lifesaving act. The act may
occur on or off duty, involving medical service or assistance.
Individual:
A Special Agent from the Houston Field Office coordinated the rescue of a coworker, child, and
family pet during Hurricane Harvey while they clung to a tree in rapid moving flood waters.
Group:
A Uniformed Division Sergeant from the Office of the Chief, Lead Law Enforcement Specialist from
the Rowley Training Center, and Supervisory Law Enforcement Instructor from the Rowley
Training Center, upon noticing a bad traffic accident with injuries, quickly diverted traffic, assessed
injuries of the accident victims, and delivered life-saving emergency medical attention to a victim
with life threatening injuries. They also assisted responding paramedics, highway patrol, and
cleared a makeshift landing pad for a Medevac unit.
Impact Award Recipients:
The Impact Award is presented to an individual or group of employees who have demonstrated a
widely recognized and unique plan or action, which successfully enhanced the culture or
significantly impacted the business practices of the Secret Service.
Individual:
A Computer Engineer from the Criminal Investigative Division led a design team that created and
implemented a protective and investigative system that paved the way for the certification and
accreditation of the Secret Service’s Field Support System.
Group:
Miami Electronic Crimes Task Force and the South Florida Organized Fraud Task Force conducted
more than 14,000 electronic forensic exams and disrupted numerous organized gas pump
skimming operations.
Protective Intelligence Division team members, whose discovery of an active threat during the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit (ASEAN) and collaboration with intelligence
agencies and foreign security officials, led to the arrest of three suspects and neutralized a potential
threat to the President of the United States.
Special Agents, Analysts, Specialists, Records Technicians, Scientists, and Contractors designed a
Not In Evidence (NIE) Modernization Backlog system that reformed and increased the efficiency of
processing large volumes of counterfeit currency.
Dayton Resident Office personnel collaborated with law enforcement partners and led a
concentrated effort to successfully propose legislation making counterfeiting a felony in the state of
Ohio.
Special Agents, Analysts, Contractors, and a Criminal Research Specialist created a Global
Investigative System that provided a solution to combatting financial crime that blended field
Special Agents formed a Joint External Training Project that partnered with other federal agencies
to create comprehensive training exercises that enhanced the White House security posture and
improved Secret Service readiness across the agency.
Special Agents, Uniformed Division Officers, and Protective Events Specialist organized a Joint
Operations Security Plan that incorporated a partnership with other law enforcement agencies to
conduct a comprehensive review of emergency actions that resulted in the integration of Secret
Service protocols, and modernized tactics, techniques, and procedures of the White House complex.
Special Agents, Specialists, Contractors, and an Information Technology Manager formed a
Cybersecurity Readiness Team and were challenged to meet or exceed cyber security performance
metrics. Through the team’s ability to restructure staffing and business processes in a single
calendar year, Secret Service cybersecurity became a top rated component in DHS.