Outside the Secret Service Podcast
Aug 25, 2026 · 1 hr 49 min · 13 segments
On this episode of OTSS, we hear from Retired Assistant Director, Mike Centrella. Mike is kind enough to share insights from 25-year Secret Service career. Fresh from college, Mike was part of the…
Mike CentrellaGuestJim HolcombHostWas that, do you think being in personnel was probably one of the toughest assignments of your career?
You know,
So I went back with a mission, with a marching order of trying to help the agency save the investigative mission.
Because if you remember back then, there was some discussion of whether or not Congress wanted us to lose our dual mission because they felt that if you eliminate eliminate criminal investigations agents that have more time to focus on protection.
I think the number was like 50 or 60% of the staff because everybody's going to be like, we're out because we can't do protection all day long.
We're trying to learn about AI and what that's going to be doing for criminal investigations.
So It was tough along the lines that we were dealing a lot with congressional inquiries, trying to get through that time.
And, you know, I think I learned a lot on how Congress works, on how the service is made, I guess is a better way of saying it.
But yeah, I can't say it was my most difficult time, because going through 9-11 in New York City, that was a difficult time.
Being in inspection during COVID and all that time, that was a difficult time.
So there was many elements throughout the career that I would consider difficult.
I enjoyed the fact that we were able to protect the mission and keep the dual mission intact, so I'll set it up.
I want to circle back to New York here in a second, but hey, we have the AD of personnel on the retired.
What's your best recruitment pitch for people considering a career in the Secret Service?
Was that, do you think being in personnel was probably one of the toughest assignments of your career?
You know,
So I went back with a mission, with a marching order of trying to help the agency save the investigative mission.
Because if you remember back then, there was some discussion of whether or not Congress wanted us to lose our dual mission because they felt that if you eliminate eliminate criminal investigations agents that have more time to focus on protection.
I think the number was like 50 or 60% of the staff because everybody's going to be like, we're out because we can't do protection all day long.
We're trying to learn about AI and what that's going to be doing for criminal investigations.
So It was tough along the lines that we were dealing a lot with congressional inquiries, trying to get through that time.
And, you know, I think I learned a lot on how Congress works, on how the service is made, I guess is a better way of saying it.
But yeah, I can't say it was my most difficult time, because going through 9-11 in New York City, that was a difficult time.
Being in inspection during COVID and all that time, that was a difficult time.
So there was many elements throughout the career that I would consider difficult.
I enjoyed the fact that we were able to protect the mission and keep the dual mission intact, so I'll set it up.
I want to circle back to New York here in a second, but hey, we have the AD of personnel on the retired.
What's your best recruitment pitch for people considering a career in the Secret Service?
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