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etired Deputy Assistant Director CharlesL. Gittens, Ofce of Inspection, passedaway on July 27, 2011. Mr. Gittens was therst African American to serve as a special agentin the U.S. Secret Service, and was sworn in onFebruary 1, 1956.During his career, Mr. Gittens had risen throughthe ranks, having begun his Secret Service careerassigned to the Charlotte Field Ofce. Addition-al assignments included the New York City FieldOfce and the San Juan Field Ofce. In 1971, Mr.Gittens was appointed Special Agent in Chargeof the Washington Field Ofce. Six years later,he was promoted as the rst African AmericanDeputy Assistant Director, Ofce of Inspection,where he remained until his retirement in 1979.During his career, Mr. Gittens was involved innumerous undercover investigations and was amember of “The Special Detail” which special-ized in curtailing counterfeiting activities in theUnited States and abroad. In addition, Mr. Gittensprotected Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson, Vice President Humphrey, Mrs. Kennedy,and President Johnson’s daughter Linda Bird.Working towards expanding the employee di-versity of the Secret Service, Mr. Gittens waspart of the agency’s rst minority recruitmentprogram in 1965, visiting predominantly African-American colleges and universities to talk aboutthe Secret Service and its employment opportuni-ties. In March 1971, Mr. Gittens was selected asan Equal Employment Opportunity Counselorfor all Secret Service employees, with emphasison insuring equal employment opportunities forminority groups, women, older employees, andemployees with disabilities.
Mr. Gittens was the rst African American to serve as a special agent in the U.S. Secret Service, and was sworn in on February 1, 1956.
CHARLES L. GITTENS
August 21, 1928 – July 27, 2011
In Memoriam
Former and current agents of the secret service attend a reunion event in 2006.
Back Row (from L to R): Richard Artisan, Hubert Bell, Doug Pascal, Donald Tucker,Charles Gittens. Front Row (from L to R): Current DAD TEC Renee Triplett,Current SAIC CAF Lynda Williams, Robert Faison
Retired agents (from L to R) Donald Tucker, Doug Pascal, Robert Faison, Charles Gittens,and Richard Artison visit the James J. Rowley Training center in 2006.
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