Fort Walton Beach native appointed to State Department post

Fort Walton Beach native Fredrick Ketchem has been appointed as deputy assistant secretary of Diplomatic Security and deputy director of the Office of Foreign Missions with the U.S. Department of State.

The office protects the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States by regulating the activities of foreign diplomats and missions.

“I am honored that the State Department has the trust and confidence in me to place me in this vital position. I am eager to work with our foreign partners,” Ketchem said.

With more than 24 years with the State Department, Ketchem has worked a wide variety of overseas and domestic assignments. His expertise is in international security and crisis management, particularly in hostile environments.

Ketchem previously has handled security for major worldwide events; overseen foreign, U.S. military and security liaisons; conducted criminal, counterintelligence and counterterrorism investigations; managed security programs; and provided protection for dignitaries.

As head of the Office of Foreign Missions, Ketchem will lead a workforce headquartered in Washington, D.C., and with regional offices in Chicago,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. 

There are 190 foreign embassies, 622 consulates and about 75,000 members of the foreign diplomatic community in the United States.

Ketchem is the son of Fred and Shareen Ketchem of Fort Walton Beach. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of West Florida in 1983 and 1986.