Robert DeProspero: Wikipedia written BY Vince Palamara (and praised by John Barletta)!

http://www.powerset.com/explore/go/Vince-Palamara
Robert DeProspero (full name Robert Lee DeProspero, a.k.a. Bob, Bobby, and Bobby D), arguably one of the most respected protection agents the United States Secret Service has ever been honored to employee [1], graduated from West Virginia University (WVU) with a Bachelor's Degree (BS) in physical education in 1959 and a master's degree (MA) in education in 1960 [2] and later joined the United States Secret Service (USSS), serving from 1965-1986 [3]. He was the Special Agent In Charge (SAIC) of the Presidential Protective Division (PPD) during a large part of the President Reagan era (January 1982 to April 1985), succeeding Jerry S. Parr [4]. In fact, the SAIC of President Reagan's detail on the fateful day of 3/30/81, the aforementioned Parr, had half a mind to have his deputy, DeProspero, go in his place to the Washington Hilton, but elected to go anyway. [Parr became a hero, protecting Reagan by shoving him into the open limousine along with Ray Shaddick (ATSAIC/ Shift Leader and later appointed by DeProspero to replace himself as SAIC of PPD in early 1985)]. [5]. Parr chose a good replacement: DeProspero was the perfect agent to head Reagan's detail in the wake of the assassination attempt [6].Fellow former agents Walt Coughlin, Jerry Kivett, Howell Purvis, Robert Snow, Darwin Horn, Mike Maddaloni, and a host of others waxed on about DeProspero's virtues to Secret Service expert Vince Palamara in unique interviews that Palamara conducted between 1991-2007 [7].

DeProspero devised several very important and innovative security measures during his time in the Secret Service (while SAIC of PPD) that are used to this very day: the "hospital agent" (stationing an agent at the nearest primary trauma hospital on a presidential movement) [8], to which he received from the agency, among his many other awards, the prestigious Special Recognition for the Establishment of the Presidential Trauma Protocol [9], as well as the creation of magnetometer (metal detector) checkpoints to screen every individual who could get a view of the president [10], earning yet another agency award, Special Recognition for Improved Security Measures [11]

As a result of his outstanding achievements as SAIC of PPD, DeProspero was appointed assistant to the director in the Office of Training [12], directing both a 20 million dollar expansion of the physical training facility and the administration of literally hundreds of courses [13].

The tremendous influence of DeProspero's time and talents in the Secret Service can still be felt today: not only have many of the assistant directors, deputy directors, and even some directors of the Secret Service (Lewis C. Merletti, Brian L. Stafford, Barbara S. Riggs, Stephen M. Sergek, George Opfer, and David G. Carpenter, to name a few) come out of DeProspero's PPD [14], Robin L. Deprospero (Philpot) is currently the chief of the Personnel Security Branch, Special Investigations and Security Division, of the Secret Service, extending the proud legacy of the Deprospero family from the 1960's through and including the millennium [15].

DeProspero can be seen holding onto the rear handrails of Reagan's limousine (along with George Opfer, head of Nancy Reagan's detail), during the January 1981 inaugural [16]. A light-hearted moment: during Reagan's attendance at the 1984 Olympics, Reagan turned to the unmoving, stern-faced DeProspero and said "Gee, Bobby, mine is ticking" [17]


[edit] References
^ See, for example, the book "Standing Next To History" (2005) by former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro, pages 140-142, 202-204, & 206-207. See also: http://www.assassinationresearch.com/v4n1.html
^ Please see: http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/1995/robert_deprospero/
^ 6/14/05 e-mail from George D. Rogers, Assistant Director, Office of Government and Public Affairs, to Vince Palamara
^ Please see: The New York Times, 1/4/82: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E5D71338F937A35752C0A964948260 and The Washington Post, May 15, 1998,page A01: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/service051598.htm
^ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/secretservice/pdf/interview_parr.pdf
^ "Standing Next To History" (2005) by former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro, page 141. See also Syracuse Herald Journal, 4/10/85: "AN AWESOME JOB Agent was willing to die to keep Reagan alive WASHINGTON (AP) As the man who walked one step behind President Reagan for 4 years, Robert L. DEPROSPERO began every day knowing he could be called upon to place his body between the president and a bullet. There never was any doubt that he'd do it. "I always felt I was the guy he said." Also, please see: Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/27/98; NY Times, 5/19/82; Frederick Post, 4/3/84.
^ Please see: http://www.assassinationresearch.com/v4n1.html
^ "Standing Next To History" (2005) by former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro, pages 141, 205-206
^ http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/1995/robert_deprospero/
^ "Standing Next To History" (2005) by former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro, pages 141
^ http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/1995/robert_deprospero/
^ "Standing Next To History" (2005) by former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro, page 202; "Looking Back and Seeing The Future: The United States Secret Service, 1865-1990" by Marcia Roberts (AFAUSSS), pages 110, 111, 114, 122, 123, 126, & 127 . See also: http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/1995/robert_deprospero/
^ http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/academy/1995/robert_deprospero/
^ "Standing Next To History" (2005) by former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro, page 203. Vince Palamara interviews/ correspondence with former agents Mike Maddaloni, Walt Coughlin, & Robert Snow: see also http://www.assassinationresearch.com/v4n1.html
^ http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/pdf/Sep171998.pdf See also: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-13942.pdf
^ See the video "Inside The Secret Service", Discovery Channel, 1995, as well as photo section of former agent John Barletta's 2005 book "Riding With Reagan"
^ Bucknell World, 9/04: http://www.bucknell.edu/Documents/BucknellWorld/BWSept04.pdf
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