Defense Security Service

1. What is DSS?

2. What is the mission of the Defense Security Service?

3. How does DSS contribute to national security?

4. When was DSS established?

5. What is DSS’s budget?

6. Where is DSS located?

7. Who is the director of DSS?

8. Who does DSS report to?

9. What kinds of information can I find on the DSS website?

10. Is DSS impacted by BRAC?

11. What kinds of jobs are available at DSS?

12. How do I apply for a job at DSS?

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1. What is DSS?
The Defense Security Service (DSS) is an agency of the Department of Defense (DoD) located in Alexandria, Virginia with field offices throughout the United States. The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence provides authority, direction and control over DSS. DSS provides the military services, Defense Agencies, 23 federal agencies and approximately 12,000 cleared contractor facilities with security support services.

2. What is the mission of DSS?
DSS supports national security and the warfighter, secures the nation's technological base, and oversees the protection of U.S. and foreign classified information in the hands of industry.

DSS accomplishes this mission by clearing industrial facilities, accrediting information systems, facilitating the personnel security clearance process, delivering security education and training, and providing information technology services that support the industrial and personnel security missions of DoD and its partner agencies.

3. How does DSS contribute to national security?
DSS contributes to national security by serving as an interface between the government and cleared industry. DSS administers and implements the defense portion of the National Industrial Security Program pursuant to Executive Order 12829.  Approximately 300 Industrial Security Representatives provide oversight and assistance to cleared contractor facilities and assist management and Facility Security Officers in ensuring the protection of U.S. and foreign classified information. DSS also facilitates classified shipments between the United States and 60 foreign countries and implements foreign ownership, control and influence countermeasures.

The DSS Academy is located in Linthicum, Md., and provides security education and training to DoD security professionals through formal classroom and distributed learning methodologies (i.e., computer-based, web-based and tele-training).
The Personnel Security Clearance Office (PSC) consists of the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO), the Clearance Liaison Office (CLO) and the Polygraph Office.  DISCO, located in Columbus, Ohio, processes requests for industrial personnel security investigations and provides eligibility or clearance determinations for cleared industry personnel under the NISP. 

The CLO is the DoD focal point to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on personnel security investigations. The Polygraph Office conducts polygraphs, and provides awareness training requested by central adjudication facilities.

DSS provides information technology services in support of DoD and partner agency industrial and personnel security missions.

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4. When was DSS established?
DSS, formerly known as the Defense Investigative Service or DIS, was established on Jan. 1, 1972, to consolidate DoD personnel security investigations in one organization. On Oct. 2, 1980, the Defense Industrial Security Program was transferred to DIS from the Defense Logistics Agency and DIS began to train personnel through the Defense Industrial Security Institute. The Personnel Security Investigations (PSI) Program was transferred to the Office of Personnel Management on Feb. 20, 2005.

5. What is DSS’s budget?
DSS is authorized 582 civilian personnel and has a fiscal year 2007 budget of $372 million.

6. Where is DSS located?
DSS Headquarters are located at 1340 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Va.

The Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) is located in Columbus, Ohio, and the Security Education Training and Awareness (SETA) Directorate, which includes the DSS Academy, is located in Linthicum, Md.

DSS also has Industrial Security Representatives located across the United States in 71 field locations spread across four geographic regions.

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7. Who is the director of DSS?
Ms. Kathleen Watson was named director of DSS on Feb. 18, 2007. Read Ms. Watson's biography.

8. Who does DSS report to?
DSS is an agency of the Department of Defense, which reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD[I]).

9. What kinds of information can I find on the DSS website?
The DSS internet site seeks to provide the public with information about DSS, its mission, news, points of contact within the agency, press releases, and upcoming events and conferences. It is also a tool for cleared contractors to stay current on DSS initiatives and programs. Back to top

10. Is DSS impacted by BRAC?
DSS is impacted by BRAC Recommendation H&SA-0108R, which calls for relocation of the Military Department Investigative Agencies (MDIA), DSS, and the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) to Marine Base Quantico, Virginia. The recommendation is to be implemented by the fall of 2011. BRAC Recommendation H&SA-0099 calls for the relocation of all Military Department and DoD security clearance and adjudication and appeals activities to Fort George G. Meade, Md. As a result, the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) will relocate from Columbus, Ohio, to Maryland.

11. What kinds of jobs are available at DSS?
DSS offers interesting and challenging work for people with an interest in contributing to the security of the United States. The majority of DSS’s workforce consists of Industrial Security Representatives who interact with Defense contractors to advise, assist, and ensure that classified information is protected appropriately. DSS also has jobs in support roles in such fields as automation technology, security, financial management, public affairs, and administration.

12. How do I apply for a job at DSS?
DSS Job Opportunity Announcements may be obtained at the following sites: Human Resource Directorate, Washington Headquarters Services (https://storm.psd.whs.mil/cgi-bin/apply.pl) or the Office of Personnel Management’s USAJOBs site (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov.) Back to top