Public Policy students partnering with US Secret Service on black sky events
This semester, three first-year Master’s in Public Policy students are doing a research project for the US Secret Service (USSS) as it considers potential emerging threats for the future.
Working with the USSS Office of Strategic Planning and Policy, Madison Richardson, Ben Coulter, and Mary-Elise Alworth are studying the potential effects of a black sky event, caused by an electromagnetic pulse, on the Service’s ability to carry out its mission of protecting the President and other high-level government officials.
During such an event, which can be naturally occurring from a solar flare or created by an attack from the nation’s enemies, massive power outages occur and electronic devices become inoperable. The students are considering this scenario given that it has important implications for the daily work of the USSS as it keeps the nation’s leaders safe.
Earlier this month, the students met with USSS staff, including those pictured here, to gather additional information and feedback on the work they have completed to date. Below are individual reflections from each student about the project and the visit. Overall, it has been a great experience for Madison, Ben, and Mary-Elise and has helped lay the foundation for future partnerships between W&M Public Policy and the USSS.
Madison Richardson reflection: Our visit to the US Secret Service (USSS) was very informative and also productive in working towards our goal of delivering research findings on black sky events and their potential implications to the agency’s protective mission. We had a virtual meeting with the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy at the Secret Service a few months prior and some communications going back and forth on what the project will look like. This time it was great to be able to actually visit their office and gain some feedback in person on what we know and the questions we had prepared so far. That helps to get some clarification on how we will continue to proceed for the rest of the semester. It was also very relieving to hear that they thought we were moving in the right direction. I feel confident in that we will be able to deliver some impactful results that the Secret Service can use to further their mission in the future.
Ben Coulter reflection: Our trip to the US Secret Service headquarters in DC was an incredible and unique experience. I had already done my research on the modern-day Secret Service for our project, but I did not know the extent of the Service’s history. When we arrived at the headquarters, after eating lunch in the National Portrait Gallery with a couple of members of the Service, we were treated to a brief tour of the small history museum detailing the origins and efforts of the USSS over the years. Afterward, we went upstairs to begin our meetings in the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy. It is one thing to do the research prior, but it is an amazingly different experience hearing first-hand accounts of the training one goes through to become an agent. The members we spoke with were immensely helpful in providing the insights and advice that our team was looking for. Personally, I found it incredibly impressive how they skillfully danced around topics that we clearly did not have the clearance to know, which almost felt like a script from a movie. I’m excited to continue to work on this project and with our partners in the US Secret Service.
Mary-Elise Alworth reflection: Our visit with the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) helped me better understand the dual mission of the agency and its application to our research on Black Sky Events and the USSS's assets that would be impacted by such an event. I also got to learn more about the history of the USSS and their previous role in the Treasury Department and their current position with the Department of Homeland Security. Meeting with the Futures & Operations team as well as a Special Agent in Charge offered insights into their work that extends beyond the research we've done about the agency, and we were able to hear their perspectives on our progress so far. I am so grateful for the time and knowledge they generously shared with us, and I am excited to go back for our final presentation in May!
