Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
The Defense Security Service (DSS), formerly known as the Defense Investigative Service (DIS) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). DSS makes its contribution to the National Security Community by conducting personnel security investigations and providing industrial security products and services, as well as offering comprehensive security education training to DoD and other government entities. To complement its three primary missions: the Personnel Security Investigations Program (PSI); the National Industrial Security Program (NISP); and the Security Education, Training and Awareness Program, DSS offers the unique advantage of integrating counterintelligence into its core security disciplines through training programs, policy development, and operational support to its field elements.
The mission of DSS is realized through the efforts of approximately 2,600 employees strategically located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. 230 DSS employees are Industrial Security Representatives who oversee, advise, and assist more than 11,000 contractor facilities involved with classified contracts and research/development efforts.
In November 2004, approximately 1800 investigators from the Defense Security Service were transferred to OPM. This move consolidated the vast majority of background investigations for the Federal government with OPM.