Statement from President Biden on the Appointment of Kimberly Cheatle to be the Next Director of the United States Secret Service

I am proud to announce that I have selected Kim Cheatle to be the next Director of the United States Secret Service. Kim has had a long and distinguished career at the Secret Service, having risen through the ranks during her 27 years with the agency, becoming the first woman in the role of Assistant Director of protective operations.

Jill and I know firsthand Kim’s commitment to her job and to the Secret Service’s people and mission. When Kim served on my security detail when I was Vice President, we came to trust her judgement and counsel. She is a distinguished law enforcement professional with exceptional leadership skills, and was easily the best choice to lead the agency at a critical moment for the Secret Service. She has my complete trust, and I look forward to working with her.

We thank Director Murray for his service to this country, and wish him and his family well as he takes the next step in his career.

Kimberly Cheatle’s Biography

Kimberly Cheatle served more than 25 years for the United States Secret Service in numerous leadership roles, including the Vice Presidential Protective Division, the Resident Agent in Charge, Grand Rapids, MI resident office, Assistant Inspector, Office of Inspection, Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge, Vice Presidential Protective Division, and Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge, RTC. In 2021, President Biden awarded Cheatle with a Presidential Rank Award, recognizing her among a select group of career members of the Senior Executive Service for exceptional performance over an extended period of time.

Cheatle is currently a senior director at PepsiCo North America overseeing facilities, personnel and business continuity, and prior to that served as Assistant Director, Office of Protective Operations. In this position, Cheatle managed the execution of the Office of Protective Operation’s $133.5M budget and collaborated with ten operational divisions and the Technical Security Division to research, develop, and deploy technologies that reduce risks to protectees, protected facilities, and protected events. She also developed and updated operational policies; oversaw a special projects team that responds to operational, technical and administrative issues at all levels of the organization; and directed staffing and logistical operations for the directorate and ten operational divisions to ensure divisions and events are properly resourced.

Prior to serving as Assistant Director, Cheatle served as the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office, providing oversight for all mission-related investigations, protective intelligence and protective visits in the state of Georgia.

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