Article

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) has supported the Secret Service since 1958, initially responding to a request for bomb tech expertise during presidential appearances. By 1969, specific EOD units were designated for White House support, including those from Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland.

EOD detachments also aided candidates based on eligibility criteria during election years. The only EOD fatality occurred on September 28, 1976, when SGM Kenneth Ray Foster was killed by an IED while inspecting a bomb site. In 2007, formal directives established the joint EOD VIPPSA mission for enhanced presidential protection, with evolving roles outlined in Department of Defense Instructions.