Stephen Burchyns Memorial Scholarship

It was just a little over a year ago that we gathered in Washington, DC, to mourn the loss of our friend and colleague Stephen Burchyns. Today, we are here to celebrate Steve’s life with the announcement of The Stephen Burchyns Scholarship. This scholarship is a generous gift from the Burchyns family that will benefit many of the children of Steve’s colleagues in the Diplomatic Security Service. The gift of education is special, like the man we honor today, and we thank the Burchyns family and John Carroll University for their tireless efforts to make this scholarship possible.

Many of you may have known Steve as a childhood friend, a classmate, a fellow alumni, or a fellow special agent. Though we have never met before, I share a common bond with each and every one of you, a deep appreciation for Steve and the life he led. Steve set the example for all of us––a caring, thoughtful man who, in our case, left an indelible mark of excellence within the Diplomatic Security Service.

It’s clear that we all share the same strong feelings for our friend Steve. But many of you might not be aware of Steve’s proud service to his country. For 28 years, Steve was a special agent for the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. In his career, Steve protected Secretaries of State and foreign dignitaries, conducted criminal investigations into international document fraud involving smugglers, international terrorists, organized crime, and espionage. He served abroad at our embassies in Brussels, Rabat, Abu Dhabi, and Nassau protecting our diplomats and embassies to ensure the advancement of American foreign policy goals worldwide. Without question, Steve had a fascinating career.

The Diplomatic Security Service, or “DSS” as it is commonly called, has been in existence for more than 80 years. We began in 1916 as one special agent working directly for the Secretary of State. Yet its within the past 30 years, roughly the time paralleling of Steve’s career, that the DSS has expanded dramatically. This period coincided with the Cold War and the emergence of the global reaches of international terrorism. 

Today, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service is a vast enterprise, and markedly different from when Steve and I were new agents. With more than 32,000 employees worldwide, it is the most widely represented American security and law enforcement organization around the world. Our primary mission involves the security of U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, the protection of dignitaries, and maintaining the integrity of the world’s most valuable travel documents––the American passport and visa. DSS is constantly changing and expanding its missions to provide a secure environment for the conduct of American foreign policy. 

Our special agents serve in 158 foreign countries around the world. In addition to protecting Americans overseas from terrorist attack, they have forged valuable relationships with foreign police and security services worldwide. Through this global network of international law enforcement contacts, we have identified, arrested, and prosecuted potential terrorist suspects before they reach American shores. 

DSS criminal investigations into passport and visa fraud—felonies often committed in connection with other more serious crimes, including international terrorism—help secure American borders and protect the American people and the national security of the United States.

Our organization also runs the U.S. Government’s successful Rewards for Justice Program, through which rewards are offered for information that prevents terrorist attacks or brings terrorists to justice. Through our global advertising campaigns, our message has reached millions of people and put potential sources of information in every place a terrorist might try to hide or operate. As a result, we’ve put terrorists, such as Ramzi Yousef, behind bars, and saved thousands of innocent lives.

Another DSS-led effort, the Antiterrorism Assistance Program, provides terrorism-focused police training to civilian security personnel from friendly governments. More than 31,000 students from 127 countries have received ATA training in the last 20 years.  These students return to their countries better prepared to fight terrorism and protect Americans overseas during a crisis. 

Without question, the men and women who comprise the Diplomatic Security Service, are highly dedicated and possess a work ethic that is second to none. Just like Steve.  They make tremendous sacrifices, serve in some of the most dangerous places in the world and miss precious family events and loved ones to ensure that our foreign policy goals are met and that our borders remain secure. For every Paris and London there is a Kabul or Ulaanbaatar. Every one of the men and women of the Diplomatic Security Service are true patriots. 

Steve was a patriot. He loved his country. We know that by the man he was and the life he chose. Throughout his career, Steve made many sacrifices for his country and the Diplomatic Security Service. I want you to know they are deeply appreciated. 

Steve was involved in every aspect of the DSS enterprise. His work was critically important to our national security. Yet, I believe his greatest contribution was in the development of our latest generation of new agents and future leaders to meet the challenges of this new century. 

That’s why I believe this scholarship fund is so important. This scholarship will serve not only to benefit the children of his fellow agents, but will be a lasting legacy to Steve’s career contributions to the organization he loved and the nation he defended. This scholarship also underscores the growing sense of community that has become so important in DSS as our fellow agents and their families cope with the stress and challenge of life in a dangerous world. 

When Steve knew he was ill, he faced what lay in his path with quiet strength and courage––the same courage he had shown in his professional life.

I hope you will feel pride and comfort in knowing that Steve’s courage will inspire his colleagues. In particular, this scholarship will encourage many who may otherwise have no opportunity for a college scholarship. 

In closing, I would like to thank the John Carroll University for hosting this event, and express the deepest gratitude to Steve’s family for their effort to establish this wonderful scholarship.