The Secret Service is working to recruit LSU student-athletes as agents. Here’s why.

The United States Secret Service is recruiting new agents and has directed its attention toward LSU student-athletes for fresh talent.

As part of the increased focus on cybersecurity in the university’s Scholarship First Agenda, LSU has signed a partnership agreement with the Secret Service that will recruit student-athletes into its ranks.

“They have, with some training and at least for the protective measures of the Secret Service, the physicality, the athleticism, the team mentality, the discipline and team spirit to be able to work together as part of a group,” said Elsa Hahne, LSU strategic research communications director. “That’s kind of a given for them already, so it’s a great way for them to essentially go into a super interesting career where their skill sets will already be valued and appreciated from the get-go.”

Student-athletes will be recruited into the Special Agent Talent & Recruitment, or STAR, program that will position them to elected leaders and foreign dignitaries around the world.

STAR recruits can also transition into major cyber and financial criminal investigations, qualify for full tuition reimbursement and receive support for their education and professional development goals.

Golden Richard, LSU professor of computer science and faculty lead on the university’s cybersecurity initiative, said working together benefits the Secret Service by pairing ambitious students with experienced agents in cyber crimes.

“It’s essentially now all kinds of federal financial crime; they work in money laundering, credit card fraud and all kinds of credit card schemes or anything that impacts currency in the United States,” he said. “It’s much more technical than it was in the beginning. Before, it was about finding the counterfeit machines that are making $20 bills, and now it’s all kinds of schemes for defrauding people out of credit card charges and, on top of that, cryptocurrency stuff.”

The Secret Service is seeking out student-athletes to provide physical and technical skills, Richard said, noting that Secret Service members can serve as both forensic analysts and protective agents.