Supervisory Special Agent Wendy Bashnan on the Three Factors That Shape Human Capital

You don’t have to look too far to realize that the threat landscape is evolving dramatically. With that comes an increased need for a workforce that expands far beyond day-to-day tactical skills. As the lead advisor of all security and law enforcement training programs and policies for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Wendy Bashnan is all too familiar with this mantra. She works day in and day out to create a resilient workforce each and every day.

In this episode, Fred and Wendy discuss the training environment at the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC), and the value of balancing physical training with the ability to “empathetically respond to your environment.” She shares the imperative to rise above the daily grind and think strategically — from how to invest and influence, to how to manage a crisis. In the back half of the episode, they discuss special events and the ability to see far beyond the venue and the day of activity to look for “soft targets.”

Wendy is a Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a member of the Senior Foreign Service. She currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director to the Training Directorate. In her previous assignment as Director of the NATO Office of Security, she served as the Principal Security Advisor to the Secretary General and to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. Prior to NATO, she served as the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Wendy has also served as the Special Agent in Charge for the New York Field Office and Miami Field Office; as well as numerous high profile overseas assignments. She has been the recipient of numerous U.S. Department of State Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor awards throughout her career. Prior to joining DSS, she was a probation/parole officer in her home state of South Carolina.