Quick Facts
Biography
James M. Murray is the 26th Director of the United States Secret Service, serving in that position since May 1, 2019.
Born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, Murray attended St. Rose High School, and later on earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Scranton and earned a master's degree from Seton Hall University.
Career
Murray began his career in law enforcement as a Special Agent/Investigator with the U.S. Department of Transportation. He joined the Secret Service in 1995 as a Special Agent in the New York Field Office, where he investigated cyber-enabled financial crimes and served as the agency's representative for the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force. In 2001, he transferred to the Presidential Protective Division, which safeguards the President and his immediate family. In 2005, he was promoted to Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge of Presidential Protection.
In 2007, Murray became the Secret Service's liaison to the United States Congress and all entities on Capitol Hill. He served as the operational site supervisor for multiple National Special Security Events, including the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009. Afterwards, he became the Resident Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s Atlantic City Resident Office. In 2012, Murray became the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland.
In 2014, Murray became the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service's Washington, D.C. Field Office. He was promoted to the position and continued to lead the field office until 2016. From 2016 to 2018, he served as Deputy Assistant Director of Protective Operations, during which he led combined agency efforts for the presidential campaigns ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the presidential transition, and the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017. Afterwards, he returned to the James J. Rowley Training Center as the Special Agent in Charge.
In April 2018, Murray became the Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations and was responsible for the planning, coordination, and administration of the agency's global protective mission. On April 8, 2019, President Donald Trump removed Randolph Alles as Director of the U.S. Secret Service and named Murray as his replacement. He took office on May 1, 2019.
