FBI National Academy

The FBI National Academy is a program of the FBI Academy for active U.S. law enforcement personnel and also for international law enforcement personnel who seek to enhance their credentials in their field and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and also cooperation worldwide. The FBI National Academy is held four times a year, when up to 250 candidates go through a 10-week course.^[1]

History

The FBI National Academy was started on July 29, 1935 in response to a 1930 study by the Wickersham Commission that recommended the standardization and professionalization of the law enforcement departments across the United States through centralized training.^[2] The National Academy is located at the FBI Academy on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. In 1935 China, Canada, and Great Britain were among the first foreign nations to send candidates for attendance.^[3]

Requirements for admission

There are a few specific requirements to get into the FBI National Academy. Candidates have to have been in one of the following groups: leaders and managers of state and local police, sheriffs' departments, military police organizations, and law enforcement agencies. To participate candidates have to be invited through a nomination process. Participants are drawn from every state in the union, from U.S. territories, and from over 160 international partner nations.^[2]

Qualified candidates must:^[4]

be a regular, full-time officer of a duly-constituted law enforcement agency of a municipality, county, or state, having at least five years of substantial and continuous experience;
be at least 25 years old;
be in excellent physical condition, capable of strenuous exertion and regular participation in the use of firearms, physical training, and defensive tactics, which will be confirmed by a thorough physical examination (submitted when requested by the FBI) by a medical doctor of the nominee's choosing and at the nominee’s expense;
possess an excellent character and enjoy a reputation for professional integrity;
exhibit an interest in law enforcement as a public service, a seriousness of purpose, qualities of leadership and enjoy the confidence and respect of fellow officers;
have a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate; preferably a college diploma;
have 60 college credit hours or equivalent education experience
agree to remain in law enforcement for a minimum of three years after graduating from the FBI National Academy.

Life at the Academy

While at the FBI National Academy during the 10-week course there are many different classes including; law, behavioral science, forensic science, the terrorist mindset, communication, health and fitness, and leadership development.^[1] Also at the end of the 10-week course there is a final physical exam called the "Yellow Brick Road" which is 6.1 miles in length and has many different obstacles along the way.^[5]

Notable alumni

David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, former Chief of Police of the Dallas Police Department
Ron Bolton (politician), member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Vince Deeds, West Virginia State Senator, former West Virginia State Police Chief of Staff.^[6]^[7]^[8]
Bill Hitchens, member of Georgia House of Representatives, former Georgia State Patrol trooper^[9]^[10]
Scott Israel, former sheriff of Broward County, Florida, current police chief of Opa-locka, Florida
Joe Lombardo, 31st governor of Nevada, 17th sheriff of Clark County
David B. Mitchell, former Delaware Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security, former Secretary of the Maryland State Police
Patrick V. Murphy, former New York City Police Commissioner, former Chief of the Detroit Police Department
Christopher L. Paris, 23rd Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police^[11]
Charles H. Ramsey, former Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, former Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
Keechant Sewell, New York City Police Commissioner, former Nassau County Police Department's Chief of Detectives^[12]
John J. Mueller, Chief of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, former Commissioner of the Yonkers Police Department.
Eric Noble, Director of the Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management of the Philippine National Police.

References

^ ^a ^b "FBI Training Academy in Quantico Virginia." How to Become an FBI Agent. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
^ ^a ^b FBI. FBI, 12 Aug. 2010. Web. 23 Oct. 2014
^ FBI. FBI, 21 May 2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
^ "National Academy Nominating Process". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
^ "The FBI National Academy - Could You Survive the Yellow Brick Road?" Top Secret Writers. N.p., 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 03 Nov. 2014.
^ "Former WV State Trooper announces his candidacy for State Senate in the 10th district". WVNS. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
^ Gunnoe, Cameron B. (2022-11-08). "Stephen Baldwin falls in District 10 as Vince Deeds commands race". Lootpress. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
^ "Publications". www.wvsp.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
^ "Governor-Elect Perdue Appoints Bill Hitchens Director of Homeland Security". georgia.gov. January 9, 2002. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
^ "Bill Hitchens' Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
^ "PSP Commissioner Biography". Pennsylvania State Police. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
^ "'My shoes are laced up, I'm ready to get to work,' incoming NYC Police Commissioner Sewell says". abc7ny.com. Retrieved 2021-12-15.