Julia Pierson Becomes First Female Director Of US Secret Service

The U.S. Secret Service has its first female head.

According to multiple news agencies, President Barack Obama has appointed Julia Pierson, 53, to be the agency’s first female director. She doesn’t need Senate confirmation and will replace Mark Sullivan, who announced his resignation last month.

Pierson began her career with the Secret Service 30 years ago as an agent in Miami, according to the Washington Post.

The Women in Federal Law Enforcement website states that Pierson, a native of Orlando, Fla., was appointed chief of staff of the Secret Service on Aug. 3, 2008. Prior to that, she was responsible for the agency's human resource programs and training, and continued to rise through the ranks.

Pierson is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and she completed graduate course work in public policy at George Washington University in D.C.