An Introduction to the CIA’s All-American Covert Protection Unit
Global Response Staff (GRS) are a clandestine CIA protective operations force responsible for the security of CIA personnel involved in covert intelligence collection missions around the globe. Operating in small teams, GRS provides the CIA with an invisible layer of security personnel in high-risk environments. Since the end of the Cold War, GRS has been deployed extensively across Africa and the Middle East. Despite many GRS personnel having a background in US Special Forces units, operatives typically rely more on low-profile tradecraft and mastery of surveillance and counter-surveillance than they do on elite-level soldiery.
From an ad hoc team of security personnel in the early 1990s, GRS has evolved into an indispensable element of the CIA’s foreign operations. From warzones to failed states, GRS enables the CIA to maintain a presence anywhere on the globe regardless of the security threat. While the POC and GRS were originally conceived as temporary measures, the force’s continuity and growth over the past 30 years has demonstrated how integral low-profile protective operations support has become to covert operations in the post-Cold War security environment.
Early History of the GRS
GRS traces its roots back to the Protective Operations Cadre (POC), a low-profile protection force set up in 1991. The formation of the POC was sparked by the 1989 assassination of US Colonel Nick Rowe in the Philippines. The ambush of Colonel Rowe was a portent of the changing security environment at the end of the Cold War and highlighted the desperate need to mitigate the new dangers facing the CIA’s clandestine officers. In the late 1990s, the POC was rebranded as Global Response Staff.
1 How does the GRS fit into the CIA?
Global Response Staff support CIA operations around the globe at the direction of the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. GRS falls under the Directorate of Support, specifically the Office of Security. The Directorate of Support is the backbone of the CIA’s mission. They are responsible for key support functions, including security, supply chains, facilities, financial and medical services, business systems, human resources, and also logistics for tasks and assignments all over the world. [source]
1.1 Career Tracks of the GRS
In general, there are two major security career tracks which mainly consists of a uniformed division, the Security Protective Service (SPS) and an “Officer core” called the Multi-Discipline Security Officer track. The SPS are US Federal Law Enforcement trained police officers with arrest powers protecting Agency personnel, facilities, and also information through the enforcement of Federal laws and Agency regulations – almost exclusively in the domestic USA. [source]
1.1.1 Multi-Discipline Security Officers & the Security Protective Service
Multi-Discipline Security Officers learn the security business through a system of training and developmental assignments that expose them to a wide variety of security disciplines, including personnel security (background investigations, security adjudications), physical and technical security (e.g. risk assessments of facilities), cybersecurity, and protective security (e.g. executive and VIP protection). In the protective security realm, the Director’s Protective Staff has historically been responsible for protecting the Director CIA and the Deputy Director CIA. [source]
The Director’s Protective Staff as well as the GRS management fall under the umbrella of the Multi-discipline Security Officer track in the Office of Security within the Directorate of Support with all directorates falling under the authority of the Director of the CIA.
1.2 GRS Numbers
In 2012, The Washington Post reported that approximately 125 operate world-wide at any time. However, this number has likely increased in the last decade, reflecting growing international threat levels. GRS agents are a mixture of full time CIA employees and part time contractors. Since 1991, the GRS have become an integral element of CIA security. How to operate alongside GRS special agents is now also taught to trainee CIA agents at the “Farm”. [source] [source][source]
2 Recruitment Requirements
As an elite-level security force, Global Response Staff must be capable of ensuring the safety of CIA personnel in highly sensitive and extremely dangerous environments. GRS agents can reasonably expect to be outmanned and also outgunned. Hence the CIA recruits from the tip of the American military spear: former special operations forces.
Over the past three decades, the CIA has contracted hundreds of former US special operations forces members from Navy Seals to Delta Force. These former special operations forces bring a combination of elite soldiery and also covert experience, working unobtrusively on operations alongside the CIA. [source]
2.1 Lucrative Positions
Prior to 2012, the Washington Post touted that GRS positions were so lucrative and attractive to former special forces that recruitment was done “largely by word of mouth”. In the 2020s however, GRS hopefuls must submit their application letter via the “careers” section on the CIA website. The job description posted on the CIA website is inconspicuously vague. The CIA provides the following limited details:
“As a Global Response Staff (GRS) Special Agent for the CIA, you will support various operations around the world at the direction of the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. You will routinely deploy worldwide to perform sensitive operations in support of requirements to defend our nation from those that try to do us harm.”
[source]
The CIA job description does however reveal to a greater extent the requirements for applicants. Despite likely having spent their physical prime in the special forces, GRS special agents are still expected to maintain a high level of fitness.
2.2 Entry Requirements
The minimum requirements to become a GRS special agent are as follows:
- High School diploma or GED
- Extensive military, intelligence, or law enforcement experience
- Preferably in a military special operations unit (JSOC,SEAL, SF, PJ, MARSOC, Force Recon, Ranger Regiment, etc.)
- A minimum of six (6) years combined experience is required
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to professionally interact with all levels of CIA management, Department of Defense entities, and other Federal agencies
- Willingness to serve in hazardous and austere environments.
With the minimum expectations already considerably higher than your average security role, the desired requirements demonstrate the elite standard of the GRS.
- War Zone deployment experience, preferably in leadership positions
- Formal training and experience in Advanced Special Operations Techniques (ASOT) or additionally, a law enforcement equivalent
- Strong knowledge base in all facets of tactical and protective operations
- Served in multiple leadership and management positions
- Report writing experience
- Extensive medical experience (First Responder, 18D, Paramedic)
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
3 Equipment
For a clandestine force, protective gear and heavy weaponry come at the price of detection. Prior to any escort operation, GRS personnel must balance the potential threat to the protectee against the potential threat of detection. Top-of-the-range guns and equipment are always going to attract more attention. Therefore, GRS staff make extensive use of civilian clothing, small arms and armoured cars.
“To compensate for a lack of heavy weaponry, our intense training regimen included becoming skilled in the art of counter-surveillance and surveillance … Because if they can’t find you, they can’t shoot you! And that means the men and women we’d be charged with protecting would stay alive.”
Tom Pecora, Former member of the POC and senior team leader with the GRS.
[source]
3.1 GRS Weaponry
Global Response Staff rely on a supply of US standard-issue weapons and equipment as well as on rare occasions using indigenous weapons to blend into the local region. Some small arms GRS members have been pictured with include:
- M4A1
- M203 Grenade Launcher
- M320 Grenade Launcher
- M79 Grenade Launcher
- HK 416
- Mk18 mod 0
- M14
- M249 Squad Automatic Weapon
- MK12 mod 0
- Mk 46
- Mk 48
- Various AK models (AK-47, AK-74)
- Glock 17
4 The 2012 CIA Benghazi Siege
4.1 Libya in 2012
In 2012, Libya was considered one of the most dangerous countries on the planet. Following the death of Libya’s revolutionary leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the North African nation was plunged into a state of lawlessness and bloody civil war. The ensuing anarchy encouraged many foreign countries to evacuate their embassies and pull diplomatic staff out of Libya. The United States however believed it was in their interests to maintain a diplomatic presence in Libya. This was despite the apparent risks to American diplomatic staff.[source]
4.1.1 Benghazi Special Mission Compound
In Benghazi, an anti-Gaddafi stronghold, the US retained a diplomatic presence through a US Special Mission Compound. The compound was host to the US Special Envoy Chris Steven. His public presence in Benghazi was seen as a “significant sign of US support” for the rebel Transitional National Council (TNC). Stevens had previously operated from a local hotel. However, following a car bomb attack, the US special envoy was moved to the more secure compound. This was lightly protected by a team of Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) staff. [source]
The Benghazi Special Mission compound also happened to be located less than a mile from a secret CIA base, known as the “Annex”. At the Annex, the CIA had deployed a GRS team consisting of six contractors and also, a staff team leader. The team were charged with providing protective operations support for CIA personnel and additionally bolstering the physical security of the CIA annex building. [source]
The identities of the Global Response Staff Team stationed in Benghazi:
- Jack Silva – Former US Navy SEAL
- Tyrone “Rone” Woods (Commander) – Former US Navy SEAL
- Mark “Oz” Geist – Former US Marine
- John “Tig” Tiegen – Former US Marine
- Dave “Boon” Benton – Former US Marine
- Kris “Tanto” Paronto – Former US Army Ranger
4.1.2 Al-Qaeda Siege the US Special Mission Compound
On 11 September 2012, the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Ansar al-Sharia (ASL) launched a surprise attack on the Benghazi Special Mission Compound. The al-Qaeda affiliated group outmanned and outgunned the small Diplomatic Security team stationed at the compound. During the firefight, two Assistant Regional Security Officers (ARSOs) moved Special Envoy Chris Stevens into the safehouse. ASL militants proceeded to douse the area in diesel, engulfing the compound in a ferocious fire.
The nearby GRS team stationed at the CIA Annex became aware of the ASL attack within thirty minutes. Although not officially responsible for the US diplomatic compound, the GRS team prepared a rescue mission. [source]
The GRS team entered the compound and linked up with the remaining Diplomatic Security team defending Chris Stevens. In the confusion of the firefight, the ARSOs lost track of the Special Envoy in the smoke filled safehouse. All the living members of the US Consulate mission then retreated with the GRS team to the CIA Annex. Ambassador Stevens’ body as well as Smith’s were recovered later from a hospital in Benghazi. [source]
All members of the GRS team successfully fled from the compound. However, the fighting retreat revealed the location of the previously covert nearby CIA Annex.
4.2.1 Defence of The Compound
At midnight, the Annex came under heavy attack from local forces. The six GRS special agents were part of a force that defended the CIA Annex until 5:00 AM, coming under intense machine gun, rocket and mortar fire. The CIA requested an evacuation of all 32 Americans located at the base.
In the morning of 12 September, the GRS were reinforced by an improvised team from Tripoli organised by GRS special agent, Glen “Bub” Doherty. As the fighting lulled, Doherty found his friend Tyrone Woods fatally wounded on the roof of the annex, his position had been struck by a mortar round. As Doherty repositioned he himself was also fatally struck by a mortar round. [source]
In December 2012, both Doherty and also Woods were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Joe Biden. The award recognised the men’s “bravery, service and sacrifice” in protecting US nationals in Libya. [source]
4.3 Other Known GRS Operations and Incidents
In 2010, three GRS members were killed in Khost Province, Afghanistan when a double agent killed eight CIA officers in a suicide bomb attack. [source]
In 2011, GRS member Raymond Davis triggered a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Pakistan when he shot dead two men in Lahore. Davis had been on duty and was engaged in a familiarisation mission of the locality when he alleged the two men attempted to rob him. Despite being aware of Davis’ CIA status, Pakistani officials arrested the GRS member and charged him with murder. Davis was held for a number of weeks in a Pakistani jail before US pressure forced his release. [source] [source]
In 2012, the Washington Post reported that GRS operations had expanded to protect “secret drone bases”. The article also notes GRS teams are known to have operated in Yemen, Lebanon and Djibouti. [source]
5.0 Conclusion
As a protection force, GRS and POC personnel have rarely received the same attention as other special forces units such as Delta Force. Nonetheless, over the past three decades, GRS’ mastery of low-profile protective operations including incorporating aspects of surveillance and counter-surveillance has elevated the force to elite status, worthy of recognition and emulation throughout the military and security sectors.
Despite operating in some of the world’s most dangerous security environments, GRS personnel boast that the force has not lost a single protectee in that time. An incredible achievement given GRS typically operates in environments where their personnel are outgunned and also outnumbered by their adversaries.
This article was written with the guidance of former POC and GRS member, Tom Pecora. His seminal book “Guardians: Life in the Crosshairs of the CIA’s War on Terror” provides an excellent insight into the evolution of the covert protection unit over the past three decades.
6.0 Reading List Global Response Staff
6.1. Guardians: Life in the Crosshairs of the CIA’s War on Terror
- Author: Tom Pecora
- Publication Date: 2019
Why It’s Relevant
Written by a former member of the Protective Operations Cadre (POC) and the GRS, this book provides a first-person account of the evolution of covert protection within the CIA. Pecora reveals how the GRS came to be, its operational mindset, and the critical role it plays in safeguarding agency personnel.
6.2. 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi
- Author: Mitchell Zuckoff
- Publication Date: 2014
Why It’s Relevant
Covers the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya—one of the highest-profile incidents involving GRS contractors. The book details the GRS team’s response, highlighting their training, tactics, and bravery while defending American personnel under siege.
6.3. Benghazi: The Definitive Report
- Authors: Jack Murphy & Brandon Webb
- Publication Date: 2013
Why It’s Relevant
Investigates the Benghazi events from a former special operations perspective, shedding more light on the Global Response Staff’s covert work. Webb and Murphy draw on insider knowledge to piece together details of the CIA Annex defense and the broader intelligence puzzle in Libya.
6.4. Triple Agent: The al-Qaeda Mole who Infiltrated the CIA
- Author: Joby Warrick
- Publication Date: 2011
Why It’s Relevant
Narrates the 2009 Khost bombing in Afghanistan, where several CIA and GRS personnel died at a forward operating base. This true story underscores the lethal risks GRS operators accept in providing security and intelligence in conflict zones.
6.5. Left of Boom: How a Young CIA Case Officer Penetrated the Taliban and Al-Qaeda
- Author: Douglas Laux
- Publication Date: 2016
Why It’s Relevant
Although Laux’s memoir focuses primarily on clandestine intel collection, it also highlights the symbiotic relationship between CIA officers and protective details. Readers will gain insight into how GRS or similar protective teams enable covert case officers to operate in high-threat environments.
