Special Agent Bill Miller Awarded Diplomatic Security Employee of 2004

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Washington, DC

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2004

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security selected Special Agent Bill Miller as its Employee of the Year for 2004. Special Agent Miller was recognized for his service as regional security coordination officer for the Coalition Provisional Authority and as the regional security officer for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

As the first regional security officer in Baghdad since 1991, Special Agent Miller was responsible for establishing the security office and programs to protect the newly opened embassy and staff in what can only be described as a difficult and challenging environment.

Special Agent Miller stated that the toughest part of his job in Iraq was articulating the frequent changes in the security environment to the members of the mission. "I had to explain to them why they could not do today what they did last week," said Miller. "I needed to make sure that they knew there was actual thought involved in the changes, and that the changes were not made just because I said so. That's sometimes one of the most difficult things a regional security officer has to do."

Regional security officers are the lead Diplomatic Security special agents at U.S. diplomatic missions abroad. They serve as the personal advisor to the ambassador of chief of mission on all security issues and coordinate all aspects of a mission's security programs.

The Diplomatic Security Employee of the Year Award is presented in recognition of accomplishments that substantially contribute to the advancement of U.S. Government interests and exceptional devotion to duty under adverse conditions.