The Regional Security Office (RSO) provides comprehensive security and law enforcement support to the Embassy in Baghdad, the Consulate General in Erbil and the Consulate General in Basrah. The office staff includes; Special Agents of the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, a Marine Security Guard Detachment, a local guard force and other security support personnel. The Regional Security Office Baghdad is managed by the Senior Regional Security Officer/ Special Agent-in-Charge who has oversight of all Diplomatic Security personal in Iraq.
Our Mission
The primary responsibility of the RSO is to create a safe environment in which the U.S. Government can carry out its diplomatic mission. The RSO does this by instituting procedures and countermeasures that decrease the possibility that our personnel and facilities will be targeted by hostile elements. In addition to serving as the Ambassador’s principal liaison with host country law enforcement, DS Agents conduct both criminal and personnel investigations, assist other U.S. law enforcement agencies, report on incidents involving terrorism and crime, and provide security related guidance and training to Mission personnel as well as to the American private sector. Finally, the RSO coordinates the protective requirements for visiting VIPs.
The RSO also manages Rewards for Justice, a terrorist rewards program that has paid more than $100 million to over 70 people worldwide who provided information that prevented international terrorist attacks or helped bring to justice those involved in prior acts.