Defense Security Service
Encyclopedia
The Defense Security Service (DSS) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense
(DoD). Within areas of DoD responsibility, DSS is tasked with facilitating personnel security investigations, supervising industrial security
, and performing security education and awareness training. It is not a Federal
law enforcement organization; it does not have police power
s. Originally known as the Defense Investigative Service (DIS), DIS was established in 1972. DSS changed from DIS in 1999.
For fiscal year 2008, DSS was authorized 621 civilian employees. Of those, about 350 are Industrial Security Representatives, responsible for about 12,000 industry facilities under DSS jurisdiction.
DSS Industrial Security Representatives and Information System Security Professionals are credentialed Special Agents.
In November 2004, investigators from DSS were transferred to the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM). This move consolidated the vast majority of Federal government personnel background investigations within OPM. DSS still processes industrial clearance requests for the DoD, and acts as the liaison to the OPM for the DoD.
The Defense Security Service is not to be confused with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service
(DSS) of the State Department
. The special agents of the Diplomatic Security Service
are sworn federal law enforcement agents.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD). Within areas of DoD responsibility, DSS is tasked with facilitating personnel security investigations, supervising industrial security
National Industrial Security Program
The National Industrial Security Program, or NISP, is the nominal authority for managing the needs of private industry to access classified information.The NISP was established in 1993 by Executive Order 12829...
, and performing security education and awareness training. It is not a Federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
law enforcement organization; it does not have police power
Police power
In United States constitutional law, police power is the capacity of the states to regulate behavior and enforce order within their territory for the betterment of the general welfare, morals, health, and safety of their inhabitants...
s. Originally known as the Defense Investigative Service (DIS), DIS was established in 1972. DSS changed from DIS in 1999.
For fiscal year 2008, DSS was authorized 621 civilian employees. Of those, about 350 are Industrial Security Representatives, responsible for about 12,000 industry facilities under DSS jurisdiction.
DSS Industrial Security Representatives and Information System Security Professionals are credentialed Special Agents.
In November 2004, investigators from DSS were transferred to the Office of Personnel Management
Office of Personnel Management
The United States Office of Personnel Management is an independent agency of the United States government that manages the civil service of the federal government. The current Director is John Berry.-History:...
(OPM). This move consolidated the vast majority of Federal government personnel background investigations within OPM. DSS still processes industrial clearance requests for the DoD, and acts as the liaison to the OPM for the DoD.
The Defense Security Service is not to be confused with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service
Diplomatic Security Service
The U.S. Diplomatic Security Service is the federal law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State. The majority of its Special Agents are members of the Foreign Service and federal law enforcement agents at the same time, making them unique...
(DSS) of the State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. The special agents of the Diplomatic Security Service
Diplomatic Security Service
The U.S. Diplomatic Security Service is the federal law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State. The majority of its Special Agents are members of the Foreign Service and federal law enforcement agents at the same time, making them unique...
are sworn federal law enforcement agents.