Nick Trotta Interview

Continued from Page 6 the White House. After about a year, the Secret Service announced vacancies for positions for special agents. I applied and was accepted. I was assigned to the New York Field Office. I was sent back to an 11-week training program at the same locations. During my assignment in New York, I was involved in both missions of the Agency and traveled as well. I was later transferred and participated in opening the Milan, Italy office of the Secret Service. Being assigned to a foreign country was truly an experience. I worked very closely with the Italian law enforcement authorities throughout the country as well as in many other countries.

I was later transferred back to the New York Field Office and later transferred to the Presidential Protective Division in Washington. D.C. I have had numerous assignments within the Washington, D.C. area, including the Office of Training, Inspection, and Special Services. Within each assignment, I was reassigned back to the Presidential Protective Division, protecting five sitting U.S. presidents, and later finished my 31-year career as the Assistant Director of the Secret Service’s protective mission.

VTAM: What do you suggest a potential agent should consider when transitioning?

Trotta: In any transition, whether military or government-civilian like I was, you must realize that you are entering a new environment. Think of this, in my case, I was with one agency for 31 years. I had to change the mindset that the organization that I was planning to go to or attempt to work for was not the Secret Service. Different cultures, environments, people, skills, and expectations come with every new assignment. They all have different work hours and structure. I was used to a clear chain of command. Yes, that exists in the private sector but differently. Simple things on how you address your leadership are different. So, my advice is to try to understand the workspace you are applying for. Being flexible and open-minded are some points. I had to understand that I was not going to an organization like the Secret Service.

VTAM: What qualities are you looking for?

Trotta: If I am in the hiring process, I am looking for, in no particular order, flexibility: can this person work in our environment? Personality: can this person build partnerships, or can they be decisive and cause conflict? Can they relate to people: have a conversation, listen, etc. These are just some.

VTAM: What are some suggestions you would pass on to transitioning someone who worked in government, looking to make a move into the civilian workforce?

Trotta: Try to seek a mentor. Try to seek someone from your organization that has successfully transitioned. Ask questions, be open to learning, and remain flexible to new approaches to making decisions. Accepting that you may no longer be the sole decision maker but a junior employee can be difficult. Can you handle that change?

Nick told VTAM that he moved up quickly through the ranks.

VTAM: This must have been a lot of work and commitment in all your prior assignments.

Nick: For me, the focus was on my mission, goals, and colleagues as a priority.

VTAM: Were you placed in charge of all the agents assigned to Governor George W. Bush?

Yes, in 1999, the Secret Service began forming the protective details for all of the major presidential candidates. I was assigned to lead the protective detail to then-Governor George W. Bush. Protection to then-Governor Bush was authorized in March 2000. I led a team of special agents that provided 24/7 protection to him. When he became the 2000 Republican Party Nominee, protection for his spouse was authorized by federal law. Once he became President-Elect, his family was protected as well.

VTAM: Is it true that “When the President leaves the White House” – it is either The Deputy or the Special Agent in Charge who accompanies him – did you always know where you were going?

Trotta: First off, let me say that the President and Vice President and their respective families are never left without any Secret Service protection. Therefore, special agents are always with the President, even at the White House and within all his internal movements. It is safe to say that when the President departs the White House grounds that the Special Agent in Charge and/or their deputy will travel as the primary supervisor. And yes, the Secret Service is always aware of the President/Vice President’s and their families’ movements.

“We know people are watching us – we have to stay alert – I have to motivate way over 300 people – every agent and officer assigned to the President has to stay sharp,” he said. As part of their training, Trotta explained, the Secret Service contemplated that initial strikes could be a diversion, and “We were prepared for that.” Trotta admits that the Agency learned from the whole experience. “We as an agency succeeded because of our training, and we have gotten a lot better.”