He also served as the 25th Director of the United States Secret Service from April 2017 to May 2019, and previously as the acting deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as in the United States Marine Corps, in which he reached the rank of major general.

[citation needed] He later earned a master's degree from the Naval War College in 1999.

[5][9] On April 25, 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Alles as Director of the U.S. Secret Service.

[13] By November 2019, his acting status was removed, and was instead conferred the title of Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary.

[14] He served under this title until he was once again made the Acting Under Secretary under the incoming Biden administration.