Julia Pierson

Julia Ann Pierson (born July 21, 1959) is an American former law enforcement official. On March 27, 2013, President Barack Obama appointed her as the 23rd Director of the United States Secret Service. Pierson was the first female director of the agency. Amid a series of security lapses involving the Secret Service, she resigned the position on October 1, 2014.

Early life and education Pierson is a native of Orlando, Florida. While in high school, she worked at Walt Disney World as a parking lot attendant, watercraft attendant, and in costume in Disney parades. and was selected as the National Law Enforcement Exploring chair.

She attended the University of Central Florida, graduating in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Career Following graduation, Pierson served three years in the Orlando Police Department (OPD), patrolling the northeastern section of Orlando. She was one of the first female OPD officers assigned to a beat. Pierson was already the agency's highest-ranking woman before being promoted to director. She was tasked with improving the image of the Secret Service, following the Summit of the Americas prostitution scandal. On October 1, 2014, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson accepted her resignation as director.