Secret Service deputy director to lead agency after Kimberly Cheatle resigns

WASHINGTON − Ronald Rowe Jr., the Secret Service deputy director, was tapped Tuesday as the acting director of the embattled agency while the Biden administration searches for a new leader following the near-assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month.

The agency's current director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned earlier Tuesday, one day after enduring blistering criticism by bipartisan lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee for the agency's failures in nearly allowing a 20-year-old sniper to kill Trump during a Pennsylvania campaign rally on July 13.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced the appointment of Rowe, a 24-year veteran of the Secret Service.

"I appreciate his willingness to lead the Secret Service at this incredibly challenging moment, as the agency works to get to the bottom of exactly what happened on July 13 and cooperate with ongoing investigations and Congressional oversight," Mayorkas said. "At the same time, the Secret Service must effectively carry on its expansive mission that includes providing 24/7 protection for national leaders and visiting dignitaries and securing events of national significance in this dynamic and heightened threat environment."

“The Secret Service is the greatest protective service in the world, with one of the most difficult and solemn missions in government," added Mayorkas. "I have the utmost confidence in Deputy Director Rowe and the men and women of the Secret Service, who put their lives on the line every day and deserve our full support.”

More: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns after Donald Trump assassination attempt

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi referred to Mayorkas' statement in declining comment on when a new director might be selected or who will make that decision. The Secret Service is a part of the sprawling Department of Homeland Security but the visibility of the post − and its importance in protecting President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, presidential candidates and other dignitaries − suggests that the final decision will be made by the White House if not Biden himself.

Biden, in fact, personally appointed Kimberly Cheatle as Secret Service director in August 2022 after growing close to her when Cheatle protected both Bidens during the Obama administration when Biden was vice president.

Rowe, who was not immediately available for comment, who sitting just behind Cheatle during her marathon grilling by congressional lawmakers on Monday. During that, Cheatle acknowledged many times that the agency failed in its "zero fail" mission to safeguard its protectees, including by allowing 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks to scale a building about 150 yards from Trump and squeeze off as many as eight shots before being killed by an agency sharpshooter on a nearby roof.

Trump was wounded in the right ear, a Pennsylvania firefighter was killed and two other men were wounded in what experts say is the worst Secret Service failure since the President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded at close range in 1981.

Rowe also reportedly briefed lawmakers last Wednesday about the status of the investigation into the shooting − and into the Secret Service failures.

According to Mayorkas and his agency bio, Rowe has served previously served as the agency’s Assistant Director for the Office of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs, Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Protective Operations, and in other leadership positions.

More: Secret Service director grilled on 'stunning' failures to protect Trump

A career Secret Service veteran with a broad portfolio

Cheatle appointed Rowe as her top deputy in April 2023. In that role, he was responsible for direct oversight of the agency’s daily investigative and protective operations. He also guided the agency’s policies "and was responsible for introducing state-of-the-art technologies to enhance the agency’s protective countermeasures," according to his official bio.

Rowe was also assigned to the Presidential Protective Detail during the Bush administration from 2004 to 2008.

According to his bio, Rowe also was selected for a joint duty assignment to the National Intelligence Council in 2013, and he worked on the White House National Security Council as a National Security and Law Enforcement Policy Advisor in 2011.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Secret Service deputy director to lead agency after Kimberly Cheatle resigns