Former San Diego Marine Shares Stories Of Life As Special Agent

SAN DIEGO, CA – As a former U.S. Marine and diplomatic security special agent, Cody J. Perron's stories could fill a book – or two. That's why the San Diego resident recently released, "Agents Unknown: True Stories of Life as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service," detailing his life as a special agent serving across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the United States.

For nearly two decades, Perron has worked at the forefront of the security field in the military, federal government and business sectors.

Originally from Louisiana, Perron served nearly five years in the Marines. He started at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and trained at Camp Pendleton before being assigned to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, also known as 29 Palms.

He later joined the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, which provides security at American embassies, consulates and other U.S. government offices. As a Marine Embassy Guard, Perron learned about the special role of a special agent of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service.

"I never even knew DSS existed," said Perron, who initially wanted to join the Marines and then transition to being a Louisiana state trooper.

After leaving the Marine Corps, Perron earned a bachelor's degree in global affairs from George Mason University in Virginia, and after a couple years in the private sector, he became a special agent in 2008.

"I was interested in law enforcement initially, but as I had the opportunity to go overseas and experience other cultures and languages and history, I really liked that international aspect," said Perron, who is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator Training Program and the U.S. State Department's DSS Special Agent course.

"This was a perfect combination. I got to be in law enforcement, but I got to do a significant amount of work in foreign lands."

The Diplomatic Security Service is the most widely represented U.S. law enforcement and security organization in the world, protecting 275 diplomatic missions in more than 170 countries and 30 U.S. cities.

Still, the organization is relatively unknown.

"Realizing that hardly anyone knows about us, I figured it would be a good thing to write about," Perron said.

Perron served as a special agent for nearly a decade, protecting some of the highest-level government officials in some of the most volatile locations around the world.

"We do a lot with a little," Perron said. "We do everything from investigations, protection, security management, counterintelligence – you name it."

As a special agent, Perron served across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the U.S., including 27 months in Iraq, with 15 months in Baghdad and another 12 in Erbil, the most populous city in northern Iraq.

In 2012, Perron was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, where he served as the agent in charge of a 20-person high-threat protection team. He led his team in protecting diplomats, congressional delegations and other government VIPs throughout central Baghdad, including Sadr City and Khadamiya at the prison where Saddam Hussein was executed.

For two years, from 2012 to 2014, Perron was assigned as the deputy in charge of security and law enforcement at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. While there he responded to terrorist threats, conducted counterintelligence investigations and executed a successful international fugitive return of a wanted U.S. criminal. He also received a Superior Honor Award for his leadership in enhancing the government's counter terrorism, law enforcement and investigative goals.

From 2014 to 2015, Perron served as agent in charge of the 150-person protective operations unit at the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil. He led mobile protection teams protecting high-level diplomats in the north of Iraq, from the Syrian border to the Iranian border.

On one trip, Perron flew to the Syrian border with U.S. special operations forces to interview Islamic State hostages, in an attempt to gather intelligence to find and rescue American hostage Kayla Mueller, an American human rights activist and humanitarian aid worker who died in captivity.

Perron also helped create the U.S. consulate Emergency Response Team and Quick Reaction Force, responsible for responding to threats on the consulate compound and rescuing mobile teams under duress across the north of Iraq. Perron's unit was put to the test when he successfully led the team in responding to the attack against the U.S. Consulate in Erbil on April 17, 2015.

"That was the most challenging – not only because of all the different events that took place, but getting stuff done in foreign countries is sometimes very complex and difficult because there are a number of barriers," Perron said of his time in Erbil.

These are some of the stories that inspired Perron to write his book, "Agents Unknown: True Stories of Life as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service."

"I wanted to tell my story," Perron said. "I enjoyed writing it, but I also wanted to get the word out about these special agents serving overseas that are frequently putting their lives on the line for the sake of U.S. diplomacy."

Perron resigned from the Diplomatic Security Service in 2017.

Today, Perron is the co-founder and president of Fidelis Global Group, a security consulting firm. He is also a nationally-certified women's self-defense instructor and a Department of Homeland Security-trained use of force instructor. He also serves on the board of directors on the San Diego Diplomacy Council.

"Agents Unknown: True Stories of Life as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service," is available in paperback and on Kindle on Amazon. For more information, or to order a signed copy, visit www.agentsunknown.biz.

Photos courtesy of Cody J. Perron