Offices and Departments

Regional Security Office

The Regional Security Officer (RSO) is assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Wellington. The RSO is the senior U.S. law enforcement official and the security advisor to the U.S. Ambassador.

The RSO's office is responsibile for all security issues concerning the U.S. Embassies in New Zealand and Samoa, the U.S. Consulate in Auckland, and the U.S. Antarctic Program in Christchurch. Specific responsibilities include counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, criminal and personnel investigations, physical security, technical security, dignatary protection and host Government law enforcement liaison. The RSO is also a key member of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC).