Karen Lass was named the deputy assistant secretary and assistant director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) for international programs on October 15, 2024.
In this role, she oversees security and law enforcement policy and programs for more than 270 U.S. diplomatic posts overseas. She is responsible for more than $2 billion in resources, personnel, and budgets to facilitate the safe and successful conduct of U.S. diplomacy.
“DSS has the largest global presence of any U.S. federal law enforcement organization, and our special agents and security professionals are assigned to regional security offices in every U.S. embassy and in most U.S. consulates around the world,” Ms. Lass said. “The regional security office manages a range of physical, technical, cyber, and personnel security programs to reduce threats to U.S. embassies and consulates and the Department of State workforce.”
Ms. Lass most recently served as the Senior Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Mission to Pakistan. In that role, she served as the Department of State’s primary point of contact with host nation law enforcement and security agencies and worked closely with the U.S. consular affairs office to provide timely information on local safety and security conditions.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Lass served as the Senior Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Mission to the United Kingdom; Regional Director for International Programs for Africa; Senior Deputy Regional Security Officer, Mission Baghdad, Iraq; Regional Security Officer at U.S. Embassies in Kyiv, Ukraine; Khartoum, Sudan; Kathmandu, Nepal; Maputo, Mozambique; and Assistant Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy Dakar, Senegal. She also served as the special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Diplomatic Security and as a Special Agent in San Francisco.
She is the recipient of numerous Department of State Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Association in 2017. She also had the pleasure of being selected Marine Security Guard Region One’s RSO of the Year while serving in Kyiv. While in London, Ms. Lass received the 2022 Public Sector Distinguished Achievement Award as co-chair of the United Kingdom Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Prior to joining the Department of State, Ms. Lass served in the U.S. Navy (enlisted and officer) for nearly ten years and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Sri Lanka.
Ms. Lass earned a B.A. at San Diego State University and graduated with a M.A. from University of Central Oklahoma.
The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State. DSS has the largest global presence of any U.S. law enforcement organization, operating at more than 270 U.S. diplomatic posts in over 170 countries, and in more than 30 U.S. cities. DSS leads worldwide security and law enforcement efforts to advance U.S. foreign policy, safeguard national security interests, and investigate transnational crimes.