Ronald D. Young works for United States Secret Service.
He has a COOL JOB as Senior Special Agent/ Airport Supervisor.

His Gig:
Young protects the president of the United States among other things. How many jobs do you get to travel to all 50 US states and dozens of foreign countries??!!

Young joined the secret service in September of 1978. He first learned about the Secret Service in 1971 when they visited his high school. After he graduated, he moved to Boston to try out for the New England Patriots, but he didn't make it. He took a job in industrial sales until 1978. "A friend who played college football with me and did join the Secret Service talked me into coming down and taking the test," he said.

His first big break was "Getting hired," he said. "It took 2 years for them to hire me, because there was a hiring freeze."

A Day in the Life of:
Young is assigned to Los Angeles International Airport. "On a daily basis I work with the Dignitary Protection Unit, U.S. Customs, or the Immigration and Naturalization Service at LAX," Young said. "It's mostly protection. I escort people protected by the Secret Service while they're at the airport." He works about 11 hours a day.

Career Path:
From August 1971 until September 1978 Young worked in industrial sales for the Norton Grinding Wheel Company. He didn't do any internships or volunteer work in college. He quit the sales job to join the Secret Service. How did he start his new career you're wondering? A college friend talked him into taking the required secret service tests and the rest is history!

High Five:
"There are two things I like most about my job. The first is prestige, because no matter where I go, people are impressed with what I do. As a black man I feel very proud to be a Secret Service agent (only 185 out of 2000 agents are black). The second is traveling. I have been to all 50 states and 89 foreign countries," he said.

Down Low:
"Trying to build a criminal case against someone and gathering evidence to present to the U.S. Attorney."

Words From the Wise:
"For any line of work...graduate from college, remain drug free, and remain criminal history free."

Paying the bills:
Young's salary is $80,000.

Education:
Young has a B.S. in Business Administration from Clark College in Atlanta, GA. He also has an M.B.A. from Atlanta University.

For more Information:
www.ussecretservice.com