Brian Stafford was appointed the 20th Director of the United States Secret Service in 1999. His distinguished 31-year career with the agency included key roles such as Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division, overseeing the safeguarding of several U.S. Presidents, from Nixon to Bush Sr.  During his tenure, he initiated recruitment efforts to diversify the agency and expanded its workforce by over 1,000 personnel. Stafford was pivotal in establishing the National Threat Assessment Center to address school violence. Previously he served in the U.S. Army, where he earned a Bronze Star in Vietnam. Since retiring, he has served on various boards, including Point Blank Enterprises, LexisNexis Special Services, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), a partner of World Youth Clubs.