What WPS work is
Worldwide Protective Services (WPS) is the U.S. Department of State's contract vehicle for personal protective security at embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic facilities overseas. WPS contractors provide armed and unarmed protective details, static security, and related security-logistics support for U.S. government personnel and facilities abroad. It's distinct from general private security work — WPS roles run under a specific State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security contract structure.
Who staffs WPS roles
- SOC LLC — a Day & Zimmermann company, hires directly for Worldwide Protective Services (WPS) positions posted on its own careers pages, alongside broader cleared security-workforce staffing.
- Constellis — provides armed and unarmed security services and high-risk protective operations, tracing its lineage to Triple Canopy and Academi, operating in roughly 40 countries.
- Acuity International — holds WPS III task orders for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, including protective and security-logistics support for the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Browse the full WPS & Security list, or see overseas security contractor for adjacent, non-WPS-specific security staffing.
Prerequisites for WPS work
- Security clearance. WPS protective roles typically require at least a Secret clearance; some positions require Top Secret.
- Firearms qualification and training. Armed WPS positions require firearms qualification to State Department standards and, in most cases, prior law enforcement, military police, or protective-services experience.
- Medical and physical fitness. WPS contracts generally require a State Department medical clearance class rating and a physical fitness standard specific to protective duty, plus destination-specific immunizations.
- Passport. A valid U.S. passport is required, and some postings require an official passport issued through the contract for embassy-based work.
- Age and experience minimums. Most WPS solicitations set minimum age and years-of-experience requirements tied to the specific labor category (e.g., shift leader, protective security specialist, static guard).
How to get in front of WPS staffing desks
WPS task orders re-compete on a schedule, and mobilization windows after a transition are tight. Firms staffing these roles maintain candidate benches ahead of the re-compete rather than posting cold.
Register as a candidate with GovMint — register here — to be visible when a WPS-adjacent GovCon search opens.
Checklist before you apply
- Confirm your firearms qualification status and any protective-services certifications
- Know your clearance level and whether it's current or requires reinvestigation
- Confirm passport validity and gather any prior WPS or protective-detail experience documentation
- Check current WPS & Security firms and their contract history
- Register with a candidate bench ahead of the next task-order transition