The FBI National Academy is a program of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Academy for active U.S.
law enforcement
Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...
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.
["FBI Training Academy in Quantico Virginia". How to Become an FBI Agent. N.p., n.d. Web. October 23, 2014.]
History
The FBI National Academy was started on July 29, 1935, in response to a 1930 study by the
Wickersham Commission
The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (also known unofficially as the Wickersham Commission) was a committee established by the U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, on May 20, 1929. Former attorney general George W. Wickersham (185 ...
that recommended the standardization and professionalization of the law enforcement departments across the United States through centralized training.
[FBI. FBI, August 12, 2010. Web. October 23, 2014.] The National Academy is located at the FBI Academy on
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico (commonly abbreviated MCB Quantico) is a United States Marine Corps installation located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly of southern Prince William County, Virginia, northern Stafford County, and southe ...
,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. In 1935 China, Canada, and Great Britain were among the first foreign nations to send candidates for attendance.
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
The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
,
sheriffs' departments,
military police
Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. Not to be confused with civilian police, who are legally part of the civilian populace. In wartime operations, the military police may supp ...
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
Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions and dependent territories overseen by the federal government of the United States. The American territories differ from the U.S. states and Indian reservations in th ...
, and from over 160 international partner nations.
Qualified candidates must:
* 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
A high school diploma (sometimes referred to as a high school degree) is a diploma awarded upon graduation of high school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary s ...
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
Behavioural science is the branch of science concerned with Human behavior, human behaviour.Hallsworth, M. (2023). A manifesto for applying behavioural science. ''Nature Human Behaviour'', ''7''(3), 310-322. While the term can technically be ap ...
,
forensic science
Forensic science combines principles of law and science to investigate criminal activity. Through crime scene investigations and laboratory analysis, forensic scientists are able to link suspects to evidence. An example is determining the time and ...
, the terrorist mindset, communication, health and fitness, and leadership development.
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.
Notable alumni
*
David Brown, Superintendent of the
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is the primary law enforcement agency of the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Chicago City Council. It is the second-largest Law enforcement in the United States#Local, ...
, former Chief of Police of the
Dallas Police Department
The Dallas Police Department, established in 1881, is the principal law enforcement agency serving the city of Dallas, Texas.
Organization
The department is headed by a chief of police who is appointed by the city manager who, in turn, is hir ...
*
Ron Bolton, member of the
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature (United States), state legislature of state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal number of districts, with ...
*
Chad Chronister, Sheriff of
Hillsborough County, Florida
Hillsborough County is located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metro ...
, and former intended nominee for
DEA Administrator in 2025
*
Vince Deeds
Vincent S. Deeds is a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the West Virginia Senate, representing the West Virginia's 10th Senate district, 10th district, and a retired West Virginia state trooper and pastor.
Early life
Deed ...
, West Virginia State Senator, former West Virginia State Police chief of staff
*
Bill Hitchens, member of
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly (the state legislature) of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. There are currently 180 elected members. Republican Party (United States), Repu ...
, former
Georgia State Patrol
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) was established in March 1937 in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and is a division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. It is the primary state patrol agency for the U.S. state of Georgia. Al ...
trooper
*
Scott Israel, former sheriff of
Broward County, Florida
Broward County ( ) is a County (United States), county in Florida, United States, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County and the List of the most ...
, current police chief of Opa-locka, Florida
*
Joe Lombardo
Joseph Michael Lombardo ( ; born November 8, 1962) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer serving as the 31st governor of Nevada since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 17th sheriff of Clark County from 20 ...
, 31st
governor of Nevada
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a ''governor'' ma ...
, 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
The New York City police commissioner is the head of the New York City Police Department and presiding member of the Board of Commissioners. The commissioner is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the mayor. The commissioner is responsibl ...
, former Chief of the
Detroit Police Department
*
Christopher L. Paris, 23rd Commissioner of the
Pennsylvania State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is the state police, state police agency of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police is a full service law enforcement agency which handles both ...
*
Charles H. Ramsey, former Commissioner of the
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD, Philly PD, or Philly Police) is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the County and City of Philadelphia. The PPD is one of the oldest municipal police agencies, f ...
, former Chief of the
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC), more commonly known locally as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and, colloquially, DC Police, is the primary law enforcement agency for the Washington, D.C., District ...
*
Keechant Sewell, New York City Police Commissioner, former Nassau County Police Department's Chief of Detectives
*
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
The Philippine National Police (PNP; ) is the national police force of the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currently, it has approximately 228,000 personnel to police a pop ...
*
Valdecy Urquiza
Valdecy de Urquiza e Silva Junior (born 1981) is a Brazilian police officer and member of the Federal Police of Brazil serving as the secretary-general of Interpol since November 7, 2024. He was elected by the general assembly of Interpol as Secre ...
, 9th Secretary-General of
Interpol
The International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL (abbreviated as ICPO–INTERPOL), commonly known as Interpol ( , ; stylized in allcaps), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime cont ...
and member of the
Federal Police of Brazil
The Federal Police of Brazil () or Department of Federal Police () is a Federal government of Brazil, federal law enforcement agency of Brazil and One of the most know nationals Polices forces of the Executive Power of Brazil. Besides with Políc ...
References
External links
*
FBI Training Academyin Quantico, Virginia
{{coord, 38.5302, N, 77.4459, W, source:wikidata, display=title
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Training organizations
1935 establishments in the United States