Near the Italian town of Bormio, visitors can ride a mountain cable car to take in a breathtaking panorama from a café perched near the peak. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Special Agent Mohamed Hassan, BA Religious Studies ’20, who was a field liaison officer during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, recounts taking a break from supporting Team USA to sip a cappuccino alongside Olympians: “Everyone was really interested in what everyone's there to do…. Everyone's motivating one another.”
As a DSS special agent, Hassan is both a federal law enforcement officer and a member of the Foreign Service. DSS is the U.S. State Department’s law enforcement and security branch, and it led security for the U.S. presence during Milan Cortina 2026. In Bormio, Hassan coordinated with the Italian police, military, and other organizations to help create a safe environment in which U.S. athletes could focus on their competitions.
When Hassan describes the community of that mountaintop café, it echoes his days at George 鶹Ƶ, where he made friends with people from all over the world over potlucks and soccer games. Hassan, who grew up in Fairfax, developed his talents for bringing people together as a Patriot Leader and student advisor.
He says he eventually decided to major in religious studies because of religion’s impact on everything from how people relate to each other to how governments interact. He focused on the Middle East and said his George 鶹Ƶ cohort “knew what I wanted to do and they helped me get there.” He also credits Nathaniel Greenberg, associate professor of Arabic, for pushing him to hone his existing Arabic language skills.
Hassan knew he wanted to be a part of something important and give back to the country that welcomed his family when they emigrated from Egypt. He took advantage of George 鶹Ƶ’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and enrolled in an internship with the U.S. State Department through the federal Pathways Internship Program, which provides students paid work experience with the possibility of a job. After graduating, Hassan successfully joined the department, and about four years later, he became a DSS special agent.
While working in Bormio, Hassan said he was able to immerse himself in Italian culture, witness ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut, and even hold an Olympic medal. His favorite local Bormio dish was pizzoccheri, which consists of hearty buckwheat pasta with potatoes, cabbage, and Valtellina Casera cheese topped with garlic and melted butter.
While an Olympics assignment is a rare opportunity, Hassan says every day is different working in DSS and “the world is your oyster.” And he means it quite literally. In his eight years with the department, Hassan has traveled to more than 30 countries and is eager to see more. With DSS operating at U.S. diplomatic facilities in more than 170 countries, that should be easy. Hassan is already looking forward to a new assignment where he can use his language and culture skills.