Office of Safety, Security and Protection

OSSP delivers effective and efficient security standards and emergency management to create the most secure and safe workplaces and facilities within the federal government.  Our commitment to customer service ensures that USDA missions are executed without interruption.

Leadership 

Chad E. Carroll

Chief Security Director, Office of Safety, Security, and Protection

Director Carroll brings more than 31 years of state and federal law-enforcement and security experience. A retired combat veteran of the Kentucky Army National Guard, he served over 22 years in the infantry, including a deployment to Iraq from 2004 to 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University, where he majored in Police Administration and minored in Asset Protection and Security. More...

Russell Baisly

Deputy Director, Office of Safety, Security, and Protection

Deputy Director Baisly began his federal law enforcement career in 2007, serving in a variety of roles focused on security and protection. Before entering federal service, he spent a decade in the private sector, gaining broad experience across multiple areas of physical security. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in diplomacy from Norwich University. In 2023, Russell joined OSSP as Deputy Director, where he supports and advances the Director’s vision of delivering comprehensive security for all USDA personnel and property. More...

What We Do

The Office of Safety, Security and Protection (OSSP) is responsible for all physical security, security procedures, standards, and access control at USDA’s HQ complex, George Washington Carver Center, and USDA-leased facilities in the National Capital Region.

OSSP provides guidance and oversight over USDA’s contracted Special Police force who stands ready as the agency’s first line of defense. OSSP provides oversight and management on all Life-Safety services that ensure all National Capital Region facilities life safety systems are operational, maintained, and meet all federal and jurisdictional regulatory requirements, codes, and industry standards.

OSSP is responsible for the operation, support, troubleshooting and maintenance of all Electronic Security Systems at all USDA NCR locations. These systems are vital tools to the security and safety of USDA employees and facilities. OSSP manages USDA’s enterprise physical access system (ePACS) to help maintain, troubleshoot, assist and operate the ePACS Infrastructure which consists of over 9,000 card readers at over 800 locations. These locations include Irradiators, Research Labs, Agency Headquarters and many other critical assets to USDA’s operation.

OSSP manages USDA’s HSPD-12 program across the nation. This program continues to assist USDA employees with the issuance, renewal and troubleshooting with Linc Passes Logical Resources (Computers, Networks, Printers, etc.) as well as Physical Resources (Buildings, Turnstiles, Network Closets, Server Rooms, etc.)

OSSP also manages executive protection for the Secretary of Agriculture, the Deputy Secretary, and other designated officials as required. In response to the potential for violence facing Presidential Cabinet–level Secretaries—both domestically and abroad—and to ensure Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government during national emergencies, OSSP Special Agents provide protective services as mandated by law.

Divisions

Safety, Training and Emergency Management (STEM)

Emergency Management services are provided to USDA employees in the Headquarters complex, George Washington Carver Center, and at other leased facilities, in coordination with the General Services Administration (GSA). The goal of the Emergency Program is to ensure the safety and preparedness of all employees, visitors and guests at USDA Facilities. Additional services include Occupant Emergency Planning, Emergency Incident Response, Situational Awareness, and coordination with other Federal agencies and departments, and emergency notification. This area additionally provides oversight in management of Life-Safety services that ensure all facility life safety systems are operational, maintained, and meet all federal and jurisdictional regulatory requirements, codes, and industry standards. The goal of the Safety, Training and Emergency Management (STEM) is to ensure life-safe and healthy work environment for all employees, visitors and guests of USDA Facilities.

Security Service Division (SSD)

The mission of the Security Services Division (SSD) is to provide physical security and law enforcement services to employees in USDA headquarters facilities in the NCR and The George Washington Carver Center.  SSD staff liaisons with the Federal Protective Service, Department of Homeland Security, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe and secure workplace for USDA employees. SSD coordinates with USDA agencies for special security events, and for these events will conduct special inquiries, and will provide incident reports and other security matters. SSD provides and maintains administrative and security systems, facility access control; visitor, employee and contractor security processing; and incident reporting.

Facility Protection Division (FPD)

Facility Protection Division (FPD) is responsible for the operation, support, troubleshooting and maintenance of all Electronic Security Systems at all USDA NCR locations.  These systems are vital tools to the security and safety of USDA facilities. FPD’s enterprise physical access system (ePACS) project management officer (PMO) and ePACS Help Desk will continue to manage, maintain, troubleshoot, assist and operate the ePACS Infrastructure with consists over 9,000 card readers at over 800 locations. The locations include Irradiators, Research Labs, Agency Headquarters and many other critical assets to USDA’s operation.  FPD’s HSPD-12 PMO and HSPD-12 Help Desk will continue to assist USDA employees with the issuance, renewal and troubleshooting with Linc Passes Logical Resources (Computers, Networks, Printers, etc.) as well as Physical Resources (Buildings, Turnstiles, Network Closets, Server Rooms, etc.)

Executive Protection Operations Division (EPOD)

The mission of the Executive Protection Operations Division (EPOD) is to provide executive-level personal protection to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and other designees. With an elevated threat of possible violence faced by Presidential Cabinet-level Secretaries, both within the United States and abroad, as well as the need for Continuity of Operations / Continuity of Government in the event of a national emergency, it was mandated by Congress that all Cabinet-level Secretaries who are in succession to be President of the United States have an executive protection detail.