(Washington, D.C.) It takes planning, preparation, partnerships and flawless execution to make a National Special Security Event (NSSE) look easy, and as it turns out the U.S. Secret Service specializes in occasions like that, such as the State of the Union Address (SOTU) on Jan. 30, 2018.
Long after President Donald Trump leaves the stage and the event wraps up, part of the Secret Services success will be defined by how the public focuses on the Presidents message rather than event security. As Henry David Thorough once said, "Its not what you look at that matters, its what you see."
Event security will include plenty to look at, but even more that wont be seen. The Secret Services main partners in this event are the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Park Police. But many more agencies will be participating or at the ready, if needed.
"To secure a NSSE, we rely heavily on the cooperation and communication with over 20 of our local, state, and federal law enforcement and public safety partners in the National Capital Region," said Special Agent in Charge Robert ODonnell, U.S. Secret Service - Dignitary Protection Division. "It takes months of preparation and involves everything from controlling and monitoring the airspace to traffic and crowd control. The goal is to create a safe and secure environment for our protectees, other dignitaries and the public."
Part of the preparation will be to communicate with the public both before and during the event. The public will be aware of road closures and the Secret Service will field questions from the media regarding event security.
When its all said and done, members of the Secret Service and partners will be happy to go home as unsung heroes, while the public discusses the Presidents speech.
Source: U.S. Secret Service