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Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe Announces Retirement
Ronald Rowe, the U.S. Secret Service Deputy Director, has declared his retirement following a distinguished 26-year tenure within the agency. This announcement was made on Tuesday, marking the end of an era in which Rowe held various critical positions, including serving briefly as acting director.
Rowe stepped into the acting director role in July after the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle, who faced scrutiny from lawmakers after an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Rowe led the agency until the recent appointment of Sean Curran as the official director of the Secret Service last month.
“Deputy Director Ronald Rowe, a valued executive and leader of the United States Secret Service, has announced his decision to retire after 26 years of dedicated service,” U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi informed CBS News. Rowe is currently enjoying a well-deserved break before officially stepping down.
During his time as acting director, Rowe was called upon several times to answer questions regarding the significant lapses in security that permitted the assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, to approach a rooftop during the rally where President Trump was present. His last testimony to the bipartisan task force investigating the threat turned contentious as Republican Rep. Pat Fallon confronted him, alleging that Rowe was “playing politics” by attending a 9/11 memorial with other top leaders.
Rowe joined the Secret Service in 1999 and has since worked in various roles, including positions in the agency’s field offices in West Palm Beach and Miami, as a member of the Presidential Protective Division, and later in the Congressional Affairs Program. He has also held positions such as chief of staff and assistant director for the Office of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs.
In a message sent to the workforce, Sean Curran acknowledged Rowe’s impactful leadership during a crucial time for the agency. “Mr. Rowe navigated the past six months with grace, resilience, and a profound sense of responsibility,” he stated, emphasizing Rowe’s commitment to the agency’s mission and personnel.
Darryl Volpicelli, currently serving as the assistant director for intergovernmental and legislative affairs, will assume the role of acting deputy director in the interim, as noted in Curran’s email to staff.
Additionally, Richard Giuditta, Jr., a political appointee and former partner at a New York boutique law firm, has been appointed as a senior adviser to the Secret Service. He represents the first “Schedule C” political appointee to take on such a role within the agency. During the Trump administration, former assistant director Tony Ornato had previously been the first Secret Service agent to temporarily join the White House staff in a political capacity.
Curran highlighted Giuditta’s extensive experience in providing strategic counsel across various sectors, including government, corporate, and nonprofit entities. Furthermore, the agency plans to bring in a senior official from the Intelligence Community to enhance its protective mission, focusing on integrating technical and covert expertise to bolster the agency’s intelligence capabilities, although the identity of this official remains undisclosed.
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