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A.T. Smith has accepted another position within the
Department of Homeland Security effective Tuesday, the Secret
Service said in a statement.
Smith has served as deputy director since April 2012 and was
responsible for daily operations, including 6,500 employees, at
the agency charged with protecting the president, it said.
“Deputy Director Smith has had an exceptional law enforcement
career spanning nearly 29 years within the United States Secret
Service. His contributions to the agency have been invaluable,”
said Secret Service Acting Director Joseph P. Clancy.
In January, the Secret Service forced aside four senior
officials while another has opted to retire.
The departures represent a house-cleaning within top management.
The Washington Post reported last month that some members of
Congress had expressed concern to the administration about
Smith's continued presence in the top leadership.
Recent lapses by the agency include allowing a knife-carrying
man to jump a fence and run into the White House in September in
one of the worst security breaches since President Barack Obama
took office in 2009.
An independent review of the agency released in December cited a
leadership crisis at the agency and recommended an outsider be
brought in to challenge an insular culture.
(Writing by Doina Chiacu; editing by Andrew Hay)
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