Jessica M.E. Taylor will retire as Chief of the United States Park Police on September 20 to become Chief Security and Resiliency Officer at the Social Security Administration (SSA), where she will serve as part of the agency’s newly announced executive leadership team under the Trump administration.
Taylor has led the United States Park Police (USPP) since May 2023, overseeing critical protection operations across Washington, D.C., New York City, and San Francisco. During her tenure, Taylor strengthened public safety measures and led efforts to safeguard some of the nation’s most iconic landmarks and national monuments. Under her leadership, the USPP maintained its mission of ensuring the safety and security of public lands and millions of annual visitors.
“It has been the greatest honor of my career leading the brave men and women of the United States Park Police,” Chief Taylor said in announcing her retirement. “I leave with immense gratitude and deep respect for this Force and everyone who works with grit and integrity serving in the United States Park Police.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised Taylor’s service, saying her “leadership, integrity and service to this country will leave a lasting legacy that will be felt for generations to come.”
Taylor’s departure comes as the USPP now operates under the direct supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, a realignment that became effective August 25. This removed the traditional supervisory role of the National Park Service (NPS) Director and the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks (AS FWP) over the USPP, though they will continue to provide administrative support. Both the NPS Director and Assistant Secretary FWP roles are currently filled by acting heads.
Chief Taylor will continue to assist with law enforcement surge efforts in the District until her final day. The Interior Department expects to name her successor in the coming weeks.
Taylor will bring more than two decades of federal law enforcement experience to her new role with SSA. Before joining the Park Police, Taylor was Director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division. She also held leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, where she served as Special Agent in Charge of operations and investigations and created the Wildlife Trafficking Initiative.
Taylor began her federal career in 1999 as a Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service, where she served for almost 11 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from the College of William and Mary, and is an active member of Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).