Title: “Protecting the President: A Journey of Faith, Service, and Family.
Former Secret Service agent Kenneth Valentine shared his experiences in an interview about his career protecting three US presidents while maintaining a strong family life. His faith played a significant role in allowing him to do his job with confidence, believing that he would be empowered to do his very best. This belief was reinforced each time his team successfully brought the president back safely to the White House, joking that they had “cheated death. However, for Valentine, cheating death also means living life to its fullest.
Valentine loved his career but acknowledged that it was a high-risk, high-stress job that took a toll on his family life. Maintaining humility, sacrifice, and collaboration was crucial in ensuring the safety of the president and themselves while minimizing the impact on their personal lives. His wife’s support also played a significant role; she never asked him to quit despite the many times he offered.
Valentine knew he wanted to join the Secret Service since his junior year in college, after witnessing firsthand the excitement of protecting President Ronald Reagan during a visit to Purdue University. His uncle encouraged him to complete a law degree first before applying, which he did, along with getting married. He then applied to the Secret Service and was accepted with great enthusiasm.
Working for the Secret Service was both exciting and challenging, with Valentine always aware that his job could potentially put him or his family in danger. To protect them, he trained each of his children how to respond in case of an emergency, ensuring they were prepared and vigilant at all times. He also admired the resilience and fearlessness exhibited by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during his time with them.
Valentine’s faith has been a cornerstone of his career, helping him navigate the challenges of protecting the president while maintaining a healthy family life. His journey illustrates the importance of being prepared, asking for help when needed, and exercising faith daily to cheat death and live an abundant life.
