Behind the Mission
Matthew Packer ’19 offers a firsthand look at life in the U.S. Secret Service
October 28, 2026
By
Claire De Lisle M.B.A. ’21
The fall 2026 feature “Worthy of Trust and Confidence” shared the stories of two alumni with decades of distinguished service in federal law enforcement and national security.
Following in their footsteps is Matthew Packer ’19, whose career in the Secret Service is just getting started and has already taken him to major White House events and to serve in foreign countries.
“As a student at William & Mary, I knew I wanted a career centered on public service where I could make a meaningful impact, although I did not know exactly what that career would look like. My experiences at William & Mary helped me find that path,” he says.
Packer, who goes by his last name, was a health sciences major and an anthropology minor. Formative experiences serving as a president’s aide to President-Emeritus W. Taylor Reveley III HON ’18, LL.D. ’18 and President Katherine A. Rowe allowed him to work closely with leadership. As a member of Students for University Advancement, president of the W&M chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and a volunteer with Campus Kitchen, he took opportunities to lead, build relationships, represent the university and serve others.
“I learned how to communicate effectively, build trust and remain composed when faced with challenges. Those experiences prepared me well for a career in federal law enforcement, where teamwork, adaptability, sound judgment and integrity are essential every day,” he says.
Packer is now a class ambassador, keeping fellow alumni in touch with their alma mater. In April, he shared insights from his career path with students in a Master of Public Policy class led by Professor Kurt Klingenberger M.P.P. ’16, M.B.A. ’16, P ’22. Below, he provides highlights from his experience in the U.S. Secret Service.
What is your day-to-day work like?
I think a really good example would be the recent Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., because it was a completely new type of protective operation for us.
I received an email letting me know that I would be the zone agent responsible for one of the zones surrounding the event. There wasn’t really a blueprint for what that was supposed to look like because this was the first time an event like this had ever been conducted in Washington. The race itself took place around the National Mall, with a huge number of people, businesses, museums, roads and other public spaces all incorporated into the event.
One of my first responsibilities was reaching out to the businesses and museums in my zone and working with them to understand how the event would affect their operations and how we could incorporate their locations into the overall security plan. From there, I worked with the other special agents assigned to my zone to develop a large-scale security plan that involved a lot of moving pieces and coordination with our law enforcement and military partners.
The operation essentially became a daily effort for about three weeks. We were starting early every morning and working through the day, and the responsibility didn’t end until our last protectee had departed the event. Throughout that period, my phone was basically constantly going off. There were always new questions, changes, requests or issues that needed to be addressed, and we had to adapt the plan as things developed.
I was also responsible for leading and coordinating a large group of special agents, law enforcement personnel and military personnel assigned to the operation. That was probably one of the most interesting parts of the assignment for me, because it wasn’t just about what I personally was doing. I had to make sure that a large number of people from different agencies and organizations were working toward the same objective and understood their responsibilities.
This is a good example of what the Secret Service does because the public sees the race, the crowds, the cars and all of the excitement. They don’t necessarily see the security operation happening underneath all of that. For us, the goal was to create an environment where thousands of people could enjoy this historic event, while our protectees could safely attend and move throughout the event.
That is really what the protective side of the Secret Service is about. A lot of it is preparation, coordination, leadership and constantly anticipating what could go wrong before it does. When everything goes well, it can look almost effortless from the outside, but that usually means a tremendous amount of work happened behind the scenes.
What is your favorite part of this role?
My favorite part of this role is the opportunity to travel the world. I’m what most people refer to as a “military brat”— military yes, brat no. Traveling and experiencing different places and cultures has always been a part of my life. My family and I had the opportunity to visit 27 countries during my childhood because of my father’s service in national intelligence. Being exposed to so many different places, cultures, and people at an early age gave me a love of travel that has stayed with me. Having a career that allows me to continue seeing the world feels like a natural extension of how I grew up.
What do you find most challenging?
The most challenging part of my role is adjusting to the unpredictable nature of the job. It isn’t a typical 9-to-5 career. Work can include weekends, holidays, overnight assignments and international travel. Learning to remain flexible and adaptable is essential.
How did William & Mary prepare you for this role?
I was fortunate to have many faculty members at William & Mary who contributed to my growth, both personally and professionally. Each influenced me in a different way. Some challenged the way I thought; others modeled professionalism and a strong work ethic, and others taught lessons about leadership, perseverance and enjoying the work you do.
Serving as an intern to the president under two William & Mary presidents gave me a firsthand look at leadership and the responsibility that comes with serving a larger mission. Participating in Students for University Advancement and serving as president of my chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. gave me opportunities to lead, build relationships, represent the university and serve others. Collectively, those experiences reinforced my desire for a career in public service and ultimately led me to the United States Secret Service.
What advice would you give to current students who might want to follow in your footsteps?
Build a strong foundation of integrity, professionalism and resilience. Focus on developing your communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as maintaining your physical fitness. Seek out opportunities that challenge you and give you valuable leadership experience with diverse groups. Most importantly, make good decisions. If federal law enforcement is your goal, stay away from illegal drugs and conduct that could jeopardize your future eligibility. Your choices today can affect the opportunities available to you tomorrow.