11/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/09/2026 10:21
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran has promoted Deputy Assistant Director Mark P. Ryan to serve as the agency's deputy director. The appointment supports the Secret Service's operational continuity and the agency's ability to carry out its current and future mission.
Ryan, a senior executive and veteran special agent who joined the agency in 2001, will become the Secret Service's 25th deputy director. He succeeds Deputy Director Matt Quinn, who announced last month his plans to retire on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
"Since becoming director, I have made it a priority to modernize how we operate and drive sustainable transformation across the agency. Maintaining that momentum requires a deputy director with strong institutional knowledge, sound leadership and a demonstrated ability to lead change," Director Curran said. "Mark brings deep experience leading enterprise-wide modernization efforts that reinforce frontline protective operations, enhance investigative coordination through mission-critical partnerships, accelerate the development and deployment of innovative technical capabilities, expand our operational advantage and align workforce growth with evolving operational and administrative demands."
Ryan most recently served as deputy assistant director of the Office of Field Operations/Investigations. In that role, he led organizational modernization and provided executive leadership for programs focused on combating cyber-enabled financial crime, online child exploitation and transnational criminal organizations.
Prior to his assignment in field operations, Ryan directed the development and delivery of technical security systems and specialized capabilities supporting domestic operations. Serving as a key liaison between protective and technology-focused divisions, he strengthened partnerships across government, the military, national laboratories and the private sector to advance emerging technologies and enhance mission readiness. His accomplishments included coordinating the expansion of gunshot-detection capabilities around the White House and Vice President's Residence and across the National Capital Region; unifying operational and technical stakeholders to validate requirements and develop a concept of operations for the next-generation White House fence; partnering with the military to assess site-security practices and deliver actionable recommendations to executive leadership; and leading the team responsible for oversight of the Fully Armored Vehicle Program, which acquired, armored and delivered vehicles to field offices and protective details nationwide.
The deputy director manages the Secret Service's investigative and protective operations and oversees the agency's more than 7,000 law enforcement officers, administrative professionals and technical personnel, as well as its operational directorates.
"I am proud to step into the role of deputy director. It is an honor to serve alongside the men and women of the Secret Service," Ryan said. "I understand the demands of a career in the Secret Service and the responsibilities our personnel carry both on and off duty. In partnership with Director Curran, I remain unwavering in my commitment to operational readiness and mission success."
Ryan entered federal law enforcement in 2001 as a special agent in the Secret Service's Dallas Field Office. He was assigned to the Presidential Protective Division and has held multiple other positions throughout the agency, including special agent in charge and assistant special agent in charge of the Technical Security Division; deputy special agent in charge and assistant to the special agent in charge of the Special Services Division; and assistant special agent in charge and assistant to the special agent in charge of the Office of Protective Operations.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington and completed American University's Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program. Ryan has received the DHS Secretary's Award for Excellence and multiple U.S. Secret Service Director's Awards.
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