Secret Service Counter Assault Team

The Counter Assault Team (CAT) is a specialized tactical unit of the U.S. Secret Service that provides tactical support to the Presidential Protective Division to protect the president of the United States. This is in contrast to the Presidential Protective Division whose mission is to shield the president from an attack and to evacuate them to a place of safety. The CAT can also provide tactical support to other designated protectees, at venues and National Special Security Events.

The Secret Service first began fielding counter assault teams in 1979. "Hawkeye" is the designation for a CAT assigned to the president, followed by the president's Secret Service code name. For example, the code name for President Obama's CAT was "Hawkeye Renegade".